The week before Thanksgiving is reserved for the annual recognition of American Education Week. This is a time to pause and recognize the teachers, students, staff, and administrators in our local schools. We highlight the contributions of our educators who empower the next generation and pursue the pledge of liberty and justice for all. I encourage you to find a way to show appreciation to an educator during this week. Even a simple”thank you” is enough to demonstrate recognition of their contributions.
For one teacher, the appreciation comes in the form of a $1,000,000 check. The Varkey Foundation’s Global Teacher Award is a world leader in celebrating and elevating the field of education. The foundation believes education has the power to reduce poverty, prejudice, and conflict. Varkey seeks a future where every child receives a quality education. They evaluate thousands of teachers around the world for their impact beyond the classroom. The 2025 Global Teacher Prize winner was Mansour Al Mansour from Saudi Arabia. Mansour supported orphans and underprivileged families through project-based learning. His immersive and engaging lessons were aimed at meeting the needs of students and families. The last US citizen to win this prestigious award was Keisha Thorpe, who redesigned her English classroom to help immigrants and refugees succeed. These stories prove that each educator has a powerful impact on the community they serve. Consider the condition of our community without schools.
The Varkey Foundation also reports the Global Teacher Status Index. This index measures the appreciation and status of teachers in 35 countries around the world, with scores ranging from 0 to 100, where 100 is the highest level of respect and 0 is absolutely no respect. In the latest report, the US had a Global Teacher Status Index of 37.1. The highest scores were Malaysia with a score of 93 and China with a score of 100. These index scores were surprising. China does well on the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), yet Malaysia does not. Why do the teachers in these countries have so much respect? I offer a perspective.
Both of these nations have experienced very high growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These nations have benefited from enormous investment in their ability to produce in agriculture, manufacturing, and STEM-related industries. In these nations, the current generation has more opportunities for economic advancement than their grandparents, and the key to that advancement is education. In these countries, the teacher is the sole source of access to the transformative opportunities that education can provide. In short, teachers are valued as lifesavers.
What explains why nations like the US have a lower Teacher Status Index score? Perhaps we take for granted that we have schools and an education system available to all students. Perhaps we take for granted that the educator will be there tomorrow. After considering a world without schools, your appreciation for education will grow significantly.
Thank you, Educators! Thank you for loving and growing our students!
Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr.
Superintendent
