Greg is a class act

A TEACHER at St John's Primary School in Mullumbimby has credited the "endless creativity" of his students as the reason he received an award recently.

Greg Flint's colleagues nominated him for the Excellence in Education Award.

The award is open to teachers working in the diocese of Lismore.

"My love of teaching is really inspired by the students," Mr Flint said.

"Their enthusiasm and passion for learning and life in general," the year 5/6 class teacher said.

Mr Flint's 25-year career has taken him to Spain, the UK, and across metropolitan and country NSW.

For the past 11 years he has been based in Byron Bay and is an enthusiastic advocate for his profession.

"Primary school teaching as an occupation is incredibly varied and diverse, and constantly challenging the teacher to grow and evolve," he said.

"You can be up to your elbows in clay one minute and the next you're teaching the fundamentals of golf, chairing a debate or counting in Spanish."

The school's extended community, which includes the Byron Bay Arakwal people, had brought him great joy as a teacher, he said.

"They've been so generous with sharing their local indigenous culture with our schoolchildren over the years," Mr Flint said.