*Dubai, United Arab Emirates: *Briton Andria Zafirakou, who works in aschool in one of the UK’s poorest areas, on Sunday won the $1 millionGlobal Teacher Prize for 2018 at a star-studded ceremony in Dubai.
The arts and textiles teacher from the Alperton Community College of Brent,an inner-city school in London, was among 10 finalists from around theglobe for the annual award. Thirty thousand candidates were in the running.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and British PrimeMinister Theresa May were among the first to congratulate her.
Andria Zafirakou teaches in an ethnically diverse area and many studentscome from impoverished homes.”Congratulations to Andria Zafirakou for having won the Global Teacheraward,” tweeted Sheikh Mohammed after handing her the prize.
He said teaching “is the greatest job” ever, and described teachers as”stars”.
May, in a video message broadcast at the gala event, said: “Being a greatteacher requires resilience, ingenuity, and a generous heart. These are thequalities that you share with your students everyday.
“So thank you for all you have done and continue to do.”
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton raced to the venue to deliver thetrophy while South African comedian Trevor Noah hosted the event whichincluded a performance by Oscar-winning actress and Grammy award winningsinger Jennifer Hudson.
Brent, where Zafirakou teaches, is considered an ethnically diverse anddisadvantaged area and many of her students come from impoverished homes.
The area is also rife with gang violence and Zafirakou faced “a dauntingtask when she joined the school”, the organisers said in a statement.
“But throughout the school and on the streets she is driving change”working “closely with the police to identify potential issues and (gang)recruiters.”
She redesigned the school’s curriculum “to resonate with an ethnicallydiverse student body” and learnt the basics of some of the 35 languagesspoken at the school to communicate with parents and students. agencies