The 2022 National Best Teacher, Stella Gyimaah Larbi, has been selected in the top 50 shortlist for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize, a Varkey Foundation initiative organised in collaboration with UNESCO.
Stella, a teacher at Adenta Community School in Ghana was selected from over 5,000 nominations and applications from 89 countries around the world.
Now in its ninth year, the $1 million Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind.
It was set up to recognise one exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as well as to shine a spotlight on the important role teachers play in society.
Since its launch, the Global Teacher Prize has received over 100,000 applications and nominations from around the globe.
Stella Gyimaah Larbi’s journey to becoming a transformative educator is deeply rooted in her early experiences in Ghana, where she was inspired by her father, a teacher, and the struggles of girls in her community who lacked the motivation to continue their education.
Born in Bisease and later moving to the slums of Achimota, Stella saw first-hand the challenges faced by children living in poverty. These experiences ignited her passion to become an educator who could inspire and uplift others through the power of education.
Starting her teaching career in 2011 at a Junior High School, Stella worked in a rural urban community where resources were scarce.
Classrooms, untouched for over a decade, were in dire need of repair, and students lacked basic supplies. Stella’s response was to take action, painting the classrooms, purchasing stationery, and organising remedial tuition programmes to improve attendance and learning outcomes.
One of Stella’s most significant challenges was the lack of proper facilities, including an inadequate toilet system and classrooms full to capacity.
This led her to partner with the Rotary Club to raise funds for a new toilet facility and refurbishing the school library. Through her dedication, the school saw a dramatic improvement in academic performance, with students going from having no grade ones in English to recording 12 in a year which set the tone to scoring 100 percent in all examinations written.
Stella’s innovative approach to teaching has helped to bridge the gap for students struggling with literacy. By integrating dramatisation, group research presentations, and multimedia resources, she made learning more engaging and effective.
Her “movie station”, using projectors to relate texts to images, enhanced public speaking skills and boosted student confidence.
Her “Read and Write (Raw) Project” significantly increased her students’ literacy rates, with some even publishing their own stories.
Beyond the classroom, Stella’s impact extends to the broader community. She founded a non-profit organisation that focuses on teacher well-being and professional development.
Through her organisation, she has trained over 80,000 teachers worldwide, and applauded over 2,000 teachers with citations through her applaud teacher award, helping improve teaching standards in rural areas.
Her advocacy for inclusive education has led to contributions such as ensuring teenage mothers return to school and providing solar lamps to students in areas without electricity.
Reacting to the news of her enlistment for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize, Stella Gyimaah Larbi, said:
“I am deeply humbled to be in the top 50 shortlist for the Global Teacher Prize. I am honoured to be named alongside so many inspirational educators from around the world. Thank you to the Varkey Foundation, GEMS Education, and UNESCO for recognising the crucial role that teachers play in society. Every teacher plays a part in inspiring curiosity, fostering creativity, and empowering students to reach their fullest potential.”
Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Global Teacher Prize and Chairman of the Varkey Foundation congratulated the 50 finalists for their various contributions towards education.
“The Global Teacher Prize was created to spotlight the critical role of education in addressing the major challenges of our time – from combating climate change to reducing inequality and navigating technological change. I congratulate all top 50 finalists, who are joining a global community of educators leading the way to build a better future.”
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, said:?“UNESCO is proud to support the Global Teacher Prize, which honours the dedication and impact of teachers worldwide. In a time of global teacher shortages, challenging conditions and technological advances, recognising and investing in teachers is essential to building a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. Teachers matter as they shape not only the next generation but the future of our societies.”
Lisa Crausby, Chief Education Officer at GEMS Education noted: “At GEMS Education, we see first-hand the transformative impact that teachers have on the lives of young people worldwide. Every day, they inspire, uplift, and nurture the minds of future generations. We are deeply honoured to partner with the Global Teacher Prize, a remarkable initiative that recognises the dedication, passion, and resilience of teachers everywhere who are working tirelessly to build a brighter, more hopeful world.”
About GEMS Education
GEMS Education is the largest K-12 operator of private education in the world, which owns, operates, and manages schools globally, reaching an international student audience of over 130,000.
It offers four world-class curricula and has 400,000 alumni. It believes in delivering a consistent, dynamic, high-quality education for every child – something in which teachers play a vital role
The prize is open to working teachers who teach children who are in compulsory schooling or are between the ages of five and 18.
Teachers who educate children age 4 and above in an Early Years government-recognised curriculum are also eligible, as are teachers working on a part-time basis, and teachers of online courses.
It is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.
Teachers applying for the Global Teacher Prize are assessed on teaching practices, how they innovate to address local challenges, achieve demonstrable learning outcomes, impact the community beyond the classroom, help children become global citizens, improve the teaching profession, and gain recognition from external bodies.
The prize will now be narrowed down to top 10 finalists, to be announced in late January, helping to raise the bar of respect for the teaching profession.
The winner will be chosen from the top 10 finalists by the Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of prominent individuals, and will be announced at the World Governments Summit, taking place in Dubai from 11-13 February.
The post 2022 National Best Teacher shortlisted for $1m GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize first appeared on 3News.
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