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 害羞草研究所渁ll students are seen and heard and able to realize their full potential.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淵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,害羞草研究所� 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 can害羞草研究所檛 believe it.
Watch Annie Ohana害羞草研究所檚 surprise reaction, as she finds out that she is a Top 10 finalist for the 2023. Congratulations Annie!
害羞草研究所� Global Teacher Prize (@TeacherPrize)
The Global Teacher Prize is in partnership with & .
害羞草研究所漌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,害羞草研究所� Ohana said.
A social justice teacher and department head of Indigenous studies at her school, Ohana害羞草研究所檚 teaching process aims to support the large groups of racialized students who attend her 害羞草研究所渋nner-city school.害羞草研究所�
Doing so is not always easy, but it害羞草研究所檚 always worth it, she said.
害羞草研究所淭o have the vitriol, to face the harassment from some groups can be tough and this definitely makes it feel like 害羞草研究所極K, you害羞草研究所檙e doing something right.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
With the winner of the grand prize set to be announced on Nov. 8 in Paris, Ohana says winning isn害羞草研究所檛 everything and to have made it into the top 10 is an honour.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 more about education taking that stage and having that chance. It害羞草研究所檚 a moment that a lot of teachers don害羞草研究所檛 get and so, if I can represent a whole lot of different people, then why not?害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 such a stressful job and you wonder if you害羞草研究所檙e doing anything well or right, and are you making an impact. In a way, this allows you to see that.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淎s a collective, when you see these 50 teachers, these 10 teachers, everything they do is wrapped around community and it害羞草研究所檚 wrapped around elevating students,害羞草研究所� she said.
Since being recognized, Ohana has been feeling the love from her students, colleagues and the wider community.
害羞草研究所淢y principal announced it over the P.A., so all day it害羞草研究所檚 been 害羞草研究所楥ongratulations Ms. Ohana.害羞草研究所� I don害羞草研究所檛 know, maybe they just want the money,害羞草研究所� she quipped, laughing.
害羞草研究所淲e haven害羞草研究所檛 had a lot of moments on that global stage so it害羞草研究所檚 another moment for us to highlight our school and fight back against that idea of what Surrey is and what the kids are.害羞草研究所�
The winner of the prize will receive US$100,000 each year for 10 years.
害羞草研究所淚 would love to give a trip to Haida Gwaii for our Indigenous program害羞草研究所� We害羞草研究所檝e never been able to pull that off with fundraising.
害羞草研究所淭o look at where the holes are and treat it as seed money so it grows bigger, that害羞草研究所檚 the plan. And there害羞草研究所檚 more to come.害羞草研究所�
Ohana is a firm believer that 害羞草研究所渆ducation can not be within four walls害羞草研究所� and works hard each day to live that philosophy.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very humble to be a servant, to work alongside people and offer spaces and time that I think public education should be about.害羞草研究所�
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