Annie Ohana was brought to tears when she learned that she is now among the top 10 candidates for a prestigious global teacher award valued at US$1 million (CDN$1.38 million).
The Surrey teacher was nominated for the prize in recognition of her efforts to ensure that B次元官网网址渁ll students are seen and heard and able to realize their full potential.B次元官网网址�
The Global Teacher Prize recognizes educators who are creating change with their platforms for students and the wider community. Ohana, a teacher at L.A. Matheson Secondary, is one of 10 chosen from more than 7,000 applicants spanning 130 countries, a release notes.
B次元官网网址淵ou lead your students in field work and infuse authentic Aboriginal language and content within the curriculum. As a result, more students are taking social science courses and there are higher graduation rates for Indigenous students,B次元官网网址� actor Stephen Fry said in a Global Teacher Prize video congratulating Ohana.
While announced publicly on Wednesday, Oct. 25, Ohana was told the news a few days earlier and still canB次元官网网址檛 believe it.
Watch Annie OhanaB次元官网网址檚 surprise reaction, as she finds out that she is a Top 10 finalist for the 2023. Congratulations Annie!
B次元官网网址� Global Teacher Prize (@TeacherPrize)
The Global Teacher Prize is in partnership with & .
B次元官网网址漌hat I go through, I think, is so little but in essence, you are constantly fighting for your space and your right to teach in a way that is more inclusive and tries to break through that settler colonial framework,B次元官网网址� Ohana said.
A social justice teacher and department head of Indigenous studies at her school, OhanaB次元官网网址檚 teaching process aims to support the large groups of racialized students who attend her B次元官网网址渋nner-city school.B次元官网网址�
Doing so is not always easy, but itB次元官网网址檚 always worth it, she said.
B次元官网网址淭o have the vitriol, to face the harassment from some groups can be tough and this definitely makes it feel like B次元官网网址極K, youB次元官网网址檙e doing something right.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
With the winner of the grand prize set to be announced on Nov. 8 in Paris, Ohana says winning isnB次元官网网址檛 everything and to have made it into the top 10 is an honour.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more about education taking that stage and having that chance. ItB次元官网网址檚 a moment that a lot of teachers donB次元官网网址檛 get and so, if I can represent a whole lot of different people, then why not?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a stressful job and you wonder if youB次元官网网址檙e doing anything well or right, and are you making an impact. In a way, this allows you to see that.B次元官网网址�
Ohana is the only Canadian chosen as a finalist, even in the top-50 category, with the other nine finalists hailing from Ghana, the U.K., France, South Africa, Pakistan, Chile, India, Ukraine and the U.S.A.
B次元官网网址淎s a collective, when you see these 50 teachers, these 10 teachers, everything they do is wrapped around community and itB次元官网网址檚 wrapped around elevating students,B次元官网网址� she said.
Since being recognized, Ohana has been feeling the love from her students, colleagues and the wider community.
B次元官网网址淢y principal announced it over the P.A., so all day itB次元官网网址檚 been B次元官网网址楥ongratulations Ms. Ohana.B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 know, maybe they just want the money,B次元官网网址� she quipped, laughing.
B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 had a lot of moments on that global stage so itB次元官网网址檚 another moment for us to highlight our school and fight back against that idea of what Surrey is and what the kids are.B次元官网网址�
The winner of the prize will receive US$100,000 each year for 10 years.
B次元官网网址淚 would love to give a trip to Haida Gwaii for our Indigenous programB次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檝e never been able to pull that off with fundraising.
B次元官网网址淭o look at where the holes are and treat it as seed money so it grows bigger, thatB次元官网网址檚 the plan. And thereB次元官网网址檚 more to come.B次元官网网址�
Ohana is a firm believer that B次元官网网址渆ducation can not be within four wallsB次元官网网址� and works hard each day to live that philosophy.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very humble to be a servant, to work alongside people and offer spaces and time that I think public education should be about.B次元官网网址�
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