World Teacher's Day: Three UAE educators surprised with awards for exceptional contributions

Three outstanding teachers from Abu Dhabi schools have been recognised for their dedication and contribution towards the teaching profession that made students excel.

The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) on Wednesday said it honoured the teachers in a surprise awarding ceremony that was organised at their schools to mark World Teachers Day 2022.

The teachers are Greeshma Rajesh and Anil Kumar from Mayoor Private School, Daniel Stephen Emery from The British School Al Khubairat, and Suneela Bukhari Salman Chaudhry from Islamiya English School Abu Dhabi. They were selected for their remarkable contribution and passion as this year's winners of the World Teachers Day Awards 2022.

The winning teachers were recognised during a surprise visit to their schools, where Adek representatives were joined by school leaders and colleagues, as well as students, to celebrate the remarkable work of the winning teachers throughout the past year.

The judging criteria explored how the teachers had significantly made an impact in their classrooms and on the learning outcomes of students, what differentiates them from their peers, and how they have made an organisational difference. The winners were surprised at their schools with student testimonials, a presentation of prizes, and a trophy.

For the fourth year in a row, principals from private and charter schools were invited to submit nominations for their outstanding teachers, and submissions went through a rigorous selection process, resulting in ADEK's judging panel selecting three winners.

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This year, Adek received over 190 nominations from private and charter schools, reflecting the increasing year-on-year participation in the award, which has received around 700 nominations since its launch on World Teachers' Day in 2019.

"This is a great day for me. I feel extremely happy and proud of this recognition which I did not expect today. I would like to thank our school principal and all my colleagues for the great support they have given me throughout my teaching journey," said one of the winning teachers, Greeshma Rajesh Anil Kumar, a computer science teacher.