Dubai: Nancie Atwell, from the US, was declared the winner of the $1 million (Dh3.6 million) Global Teacher Prize.
The announcement was made at a ceremony held at the Global Education and Skills Forum on Sunday. The prize, launched by the Gems Education’s Varkey Foundation, was awarded to Atwell by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Former US President Bill Clinton and Sunny Varkey, founder of Gems Education and the Varkey Foundation, were also present.
She was one of the top 10 finalists who were shortlisted from 5,000 nominations for their inspirational contribution to education.
“I am honoured to accept this award, especially in the company of these extraordinary teachers. It is a privilege to develop methods that transform children’s lives and be of use in a nurturing way,” Atwell, who has been a teacher for 40 years, said.
She teaches English at a writing-reading workshop at the Centre for Teaching and Learning, a non-profit demonstration school in Maine, which she created for the purpose of developing and disseminating effective classroom practices. Each year, her eighth-grade students read an average of 20 pieces of publishable writing and 40 books. The average child reads six to 10 books a year in the US. Along with her staff, she publishes books that help other teachers learn some of her centre’s innovative methods.
“I write stories about the innovation I have done in education for other teachers. So far we have published 13 books. There is a lot of fear of leaving the curriculum, so it is hard for new ideas and innovation to arise in education and I hope that these books would help.”
She said she was able to raise the average number of books her students read by giving them a choice in what they read.
“I also did so by giving them time to read at school and expecting them to read for half an hour in school.”
Atwell said she wants to donate the full amount to the Centre for Teaching and Learning to fund tuition assistance, purchase more books and renovate the school grounds.
Clinton recalled some of his most influential teachers. “I think the most important thing about the prize is that it is awakening people of the important role teachers have. We don’t have enough good teachers, and we don’t honour and support the teachers we have enough.”
Paul Kagane, President of Rwanda, spoke about the important role of teachers by recalling his humble beginnings.
“The conditions of the school were difficult but our teachers still went door by door to ask parents to send their children to school.”
Speaking via video, Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft, and Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State, commended the award for shedding light on the important role of teachers. UAE Minister of State Mariam Al Hashimi also gave a speech at the ceremony. She said, “We congratulate these remarkable human beings for believing in their power.”
