An award ceremony for foreign teachers in Suzhou is held. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]

The first award ceremony for outstanding foreign teachers at primary and middle schools in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province was held in the city on Feb 24.

Twelve teachers won the "outstanding foreign teacher" honor, while eight others won recognition for their more than 10 years of contributions to Suzhou's education sector. The event also presented awards to 10 outstanding foreign teacher management teams and two innovative teacher management teams.

Four teachers delivered speeches to share their teaching experience.

Nathanael Dwight Pelton, one of the outstanding foreign teachers, works at the Suzhou Foreign Language School. He came to Suzhou from the United States in 2008 and out of deep love for the city, he chose Su as the Chinese surname of himself and his wife and three kids.

A David sculpture and several paintings are seen at Pelton's workshop. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]

Pelton loves creating modern artworks that feature traditional Chinese elements. For example, a David sculpture adorned with makeup typical of traditional Chinese operas and a painting of windows in Suzhou gardens can be found in his workshop.

Pelton teaches a class. [Photo/ourjiangsu.com]

Pelton also actively takes part in social good activities. He has always taught at schools where most students are children of farm laborers.

Luo Yilan, assistant to the principal of the Suzhou Foreign Language School, said Suzhou's education sector has always been defined by its openness, and as such has allowed many foreign teachers to feel at home.

Suzhou is now home to more than 2,000 foreign teachers who hail from 87 different countries. The award ceremony was aimed at helping these foreign teachers better assimilate into the city and attracting more foreigners to work in Suzhou, said Wang Jingzhi, director of the international cooperation and exchanges department of the Suzhou Education Bureau.