The Global Teacher Prize was initiated to recognise and raise the status of teachers, while rewarding those who provide the very best education. It attracts over 8,000 nominations from around the world, which are whittled down first to the top 50 and then a list of the top 10 finalists. The winner receives US$1 million.
One of 2021’s top 10 finalists is Rebecca West, who is deputy principal at Bonnyrigg Public School in New South Wales, Australia. The school is in a multicultural neighbourhood with an economically deprived population and 70% of the students speak English as a second language.
With a number of challenges, including domestic violence and refugee status, most of the children enter the primary school’s kindergarten scoring significantly lower than the national average. However, due to West and her colleagues’ work, 77% of the students finished 2020 scoring at or above this level in reading, and 85% in writing and numeracy. This is with the added obstacle of dealing with the pandemic.
What would the 22-year veteran of teaching do with the money if she wins? Donate it to improving student outcomes even further. Maybe she has something to teach us all.
