Jamaican-Born Educator Wins Prestigious Global Teacher Award, Secures $1 Million Prize in the United States

In a momentous achievement, 42-year-old Keisha Thorpe, originally from Jamaica and residing in Maryland, United States, has been honored with the Global Teacher Award, accompanied by a substantial $1 million cash prize.

Keisha Thorpe's recognition stems from her exceptional dedication to mentoring and facilitating college education accessibility for underprivileged students, including first-generation Americans, immigrants, and refugees. The Varkey Foundation bestowed the award upon Keisha, selecting her from a pool of over 8,000 nominations and applications spanning 121 countries worldwide.

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"Education is a human right, and all children should be entitled to have access to it," asserted Keisha, emphasizing the transformative role of educators. She passionately stated, "Every child needs a champion, an adult who will never ever give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the very best they can be. This is exactly why teachers will always matter."

Currently teaching English at International High School Langley Park in Maryland, Keisha revamped the 12th-grade English curriculum, ensuring cultural relevance for her predominantly first-generation American, immigrant, and refugee students. Her innovative approach resulted in a remarkable 40% increase in her students' reading proficiency. Furthermore, she played a pivotal role in securing fully-funded scholarships for high school students, contributing to a total scholarship amount of $6.7 million for seniors.

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Keisha, drawing from her own journey as an immigrant on a track and field scholarship from Africa, deeply understands the challenges faced by underprivileged students. Reflecting on her commitment to equitable education, she shared, "When I think about the students and how much their parents are sacrificing for them just to have an equitable education, it reminds me so much of my own journey."

Beyond her teaching role, Keisha, alongside her twin sister Dr. Treisha Thorpe, co-founded the non-profit organization U.S. Elite International Track and Field, Inc. This organization aims to assist "at-risk" student-athletes globally in connecting with college coaches to access fully-funded scholarships in the United States.

Keisha's remarkable contributions have earned her the Medal of Excellence from the governor of Maryland and the title of National Life Changer of the Year in 2018-2019. Expressing her intentions with the $1 million prize, Keisha affirmed her commitment to aiding more students worldwide in accessing higher education.

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This accolade not only recognizes Keisha Thorpe's outstanding contributions to education but also highlights the transformative impact educators can have on the lives of students, especially those facing socio-economic challenges.