With preparations underway for the 2025 Everyday Hero Awards, the Bedford Independent is putting the spotlight on the previous award winners and sharing their stories of going the extra mile for the people of Bedford.
At the last annual ceremony of the awards, Michael Walker, 37, was awarded Excellence in Education for “ensuring all students have access to drama, going above and beyond to help anyone who needs emotional or academic support.”
“The reason why I’m a teacher is not for the money, not for the holidays. It’s for that sense of achievement in the students.
As a drama teacher, it’s about seeing those students up on that stage performing and becoming these characters, and it’s just absolutely amazing. It’s a craft, and I help them do that, and to look at what they have been able to achieve is phenomenal,” said Michael.
Upon reflecting on the everyday hero award win, a year on the award holds a special place in Michael’s heart as, “sometimes when I have a bit of a bad day and look at the award and I think it is worth doing what you are doing, and that I am appreciated, and valued,” said the drama teacher.
Since winning the award, the drama teacher has continued to go above and beyond for his pupils, is currently rehearsing for another school play, and offers extracurricular activities.
Michael said: “It’s all about helping and supporting the students through thick and thin and taking all the small steps, but seeing that sense of achievement and pride when they open up their results at the end of the course makes it all worth it, that you’ve been able to help them on their path for the next adventure.”
“The biggest cheer”
Michael got into teaching as soon as he left university at 21 and is now the head of drama at Sharnbrook Academy.
“It’s not easy spending loads and loads of hours preparing work, giving feedback, but it’s the right thing to do.
“It’s really humbling to think that the students who nominated me think of me as a hero, as someone that they can call on, someone that they think goes above and beyond and is willing to help under any circumstances,” he said.
The drama teacher joined teaching because of his own teacher, who supported him, and wanted to do the same for others.
“It was quite surreal winning the award. I received the biggest cheer from my students, and I hope to continue to do what I did for them, for others.”
You are now able to nominate the next set of Everyday Heroes by heading to our simple-to-fill-in form below or here and help say “thank you” to the unsung heroes in our local community who go the extra mile to make a difference in Bedford.
