You can now apply for $1m teacher award

The process to find the best teacher in the world has officially started.

With a prize money of $1million, the Varkey GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Award aims to reward an educator for making outstanding contribution to the profession.

“I want to draw attention to the achievements of teachers and the enormous impact they have on our lives,” said Sunny Varkey, founder of the Varkey GEMS Foundation, while making the announcement at the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai. “They must be returned to their rightful position as the most respected profession in society, which is properly rewarded and celebrated.”

The award will operate under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“This prize is not just about money. It’s about unearthing thousands of stories of courage and inspiration,” said Varkey. “We want to inspire children from far-flung villages, towns and cities around the world to say  ‘I want that prize!’”

Talking about the initiative, former US president and honorary chairman of the Varkey GEMS Foundation Bill Clinton, said, “Attracting the best people to teaching, developing and supporting their skills, and holding our teachers in high regard - all are critically important to achieve excellence, both in teaching and learning.”

Any teacher who is currently teaching children who are in compulsory schooling or are below the age of 18, can apply. Head-teachers with teaching responsibilities are also eligible to apply.   The prize is open to teachers in every kind of school and, subject to local laws, in every country in the world.  

Anyone can nominate a teacher or teachers can themselves apply by filling the form by logging on to globalteacherprize.com. Applicants can apply in English, and from May onwards, in Mandarin, Arabic, French, Spanish and Portuguese. 

If teachers are being nominated, the person nominating them will have to write a brief description explaining why. The teacher will then be sent an email letting them know they’ve been nominated and inviting them to apply. 

Teachers who are applying themselves will have to provide references from their current superviser and up to two additional references.  These can include video testimonials about their work in the classroom and beyond, and can come from pupils, colleagues, head teachers as well as members of the wider community.

The closing date for applications will be August 31, 2014, and the winner will be selected at the Global Education and Skills Forum 2015 in Dubai next spring. All applications will be judged by a prize committee which will meet in October to shortlist 10 candidates. 

The prize committee will include Sunny Varkey, Vikas Pota, Chairman of the Varkey GEMS Foundation; Sir Michael Tomlinson, former Chief Inspector of Schools; Ann Mroz, Editor, Times Education Supplement; and Karen Giles, head teacher, Barham Primary School, London. A winner will be chosen in November 2014 by the Global Teacher Prize Academy made up of head teachers, educational experts, commentators, journalists, public officials, tech entrepreneurs, company directors and scientists from the UK, the US, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Austria, Pakistan, Philippines, the Netherlands, Thailand, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Japan, Nigeria, Uganda, Singapore, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, India and Turkey.

 The winner will be paid the prize money in equal instalments over ten years and the Varkey GEMS Foundation will provide the winner with financial counselling. 

Without compromising their work in the classroom, the winner will be asked to serve as a global ambassador for the Varkey GEMS Foundation, attending public events and speaking in public forums about improving the prestige of the teaching profession.  One condition for winning the prize is that the winner remains a classroom teacher for at least five years.
 

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