Two winners have been selected in the first Distinguished Teachers Awards held by the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd). Awards totalling $40,000 were made to Lee How-chung, senior lecturer at the Department of Chinese, and Andrew Timmins, a lecturer at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The two were selected from 24 nominations to receive their prizes and certificates from the HKIEd's director, Professor Ruth Hayhoe, at a recent ceremony. Four outstanding finalists were also presented with certificates of merit. Mr Lee taught Chinese for 11 years in local secondary schools and has been with the HKIEd and its former Institute of Language in Education for nine years. 'I am just an ordinary teacher without great thoughts or philosophies,' he said. 'I want to be a teacher and like to be a teacher . . . so I teach.' He said learning should be a pleasure and every student had their talents and creativity. Mr Timmins has been with the HKIEd for three years and instructs trainee teachers in new technology and multi-media instruction. 'To be a good teacher, you have to be passionate, committed and enthusiastic,' he said. 'I try to learn from each lesson and get students involved.' HKIEd deputy director Dr Pang King-chee, who chaired the nine-person selection panel, said: 'The ceremony not only celebrates the inaugural awards in distinguished teaching, but affirms the institute's pledge to be a centre of excellence.'