Teacher Mhairi Cameron 'very shocked' to be named Highland Hero for work in school
The achievements of her pupils are what makes her happy she said.
Mhairi Cameron (34) began working with children with special needs as a pupil support assistant at Drummond School in Inverness, completing her teaching degree while there.
That was followed by a year in mainstream education at the city's Kinmylies Primary before her love of working with children with additional needs pulled her back to the sector and into The Butterfly Rooms at Cauldeen Primary.
"I'm very shocked to have won this award, it's totally unexpected," she said after being named Highland Heroes' primary teacher of the year.
"I think what I like most about working with children with additional support needs is seeing them achieve things.
"What can be a small thing for anyone else is a really amazing thing to do for them and it's just really nice to be a part of that, to help them reach that goal."
Her nominee for the award was happy to sing her praises.
“Mhairi frequently goes out of her way to get extra bits and bobs to enhance the children’s experience," they said.
"She puts in extra work in her own time to help them thrive as well as bringing up her own son.”