Manor College's Amy Armstrong-Coates, 23, admits her own schooldays were not the best of her life. But she now loves getting the opposite message across to her students at the Hartlepool school.

The transformation has led to her being one of four short-listed candidates for the Outstanding Achiever Award at the prestigious Celebration of Learning and Skills (CoLaS) Awards 2008.

On Friday, June 20, she will be a VIP guest at the Sage Gateshead for the awards night, arranged by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East and hosted by TV star Kirsty Gallacher.

Who wins the £1,000 first prize will be decided by a public vote – and that is where Mail readers can make a difference. To cast your vote go to www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk and follow the links which will allow you to vote for Amy and fly the flag for Hartlepool.

Amy has revealed how, bored and disengaged in the classroom, she was such a problem pupil that she was put on report in the hope that close supervision would turn things around and it did.

Amy, from Sedgefield, said: "I don't really know why but when I got to secondary school I lost my way and my motivation.

"I suppose I became a bit of a nuisance and they had to keep a close eye on me.

"Fortunately I realised what a mistake I was making in time to scrape together enough GCSEs to continue in education."

Amy went on to gain A levels and a BA Honours degree in English at Leeds Metropolitan University, followed by a post graduate certificate in education at Durham University, where she is now also studying towards a masters in education.

She added: "I never dreamed I would end up as a teacher but I absolutely love my job.

"I suppose my experience makes me more aware of pupils like I was and I always try to engage with them and give them the benefit of my experience.

"After all, they need all the qualifications they can get these days."

Chris Roberts, regional director for the LSC North East, said: "Amy's story is an inspiring one and there are others up for this award who have also made outstanding achievements. Once again the standard of entries for the CoLaS, now in its third year, is extremely high."

"Although there can be only one winner in each of the 12 categories, every single entrant deserves great credit of their achievements which we look forward to celebrating in June in order to inspire others to achieve through learning."

The CoLaS Awards is one of the most successful and prestigious award ceremonies in the North East.

Currently in its third year, the 2008 ceremony at the Sage promises to be the biggest and best to date.

The region's business leaders will join key employers, politicians, journalists, representatives from the education sector and the families and friends of the nominees for an evening of entertainment and recognition of achievement.