Soma Mandal
"Soma Mandel goes far beyond routine classroom teaching and transforms learning into a meaningful, real-world experience. She has relentlessly worked to ignite scientific curiosity and environmental responsibility among students by designing and leading hands-on, project-based learning initiatives.
A powerful example of this dedication was her leadership and mentorship during the National Science Exhibition 2025–26. Her strong focus on environmental sustainability, green energy, biodiversity conservation, and climate awareness helped students connect textbook concepts with pressing global challenges. The result was not only national-level recognition, but also a profound shift in how students viewed science—as a tool for societal change. This dedication made students feel valued, confident, and inspired. Learners who were once hesitant began asking questions, proposing solutions, and taking ownership of their projects. Her encouragement created a safe space where curiosity thrived, and mistakes were treated as learning opportunities.
Her impact extends well beyond competitions. Through monthly science activities, environmental awareness campaigns, biodiversity-focused projects, and discussions on climate change and water conservation, she has nurtured environmentally conscious citizens. Their consistent engagement in science exhibitions, sustainability initiatives, and professional development reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and leadership."
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2026 Regional winners
Regional winner for South Asia
GD Goenka Public School Model Town, India
Corina Corpas
"My teacher Corina has dedicated over 25 years to transforming education through leadership and environmental action. She founded the Youth Leadership Programme through the Ecology Club at Colegio Real Royal School. Now, more students than ever before pursue careers in health sciences or biology.
Her work has been recognized internationally by universities such as Anáhuac (Mexico), Norte (Colombia), and the Mayor’s Office of Barranquilla. As the School Research Project Coordinator, she oversees 20 university-level research projects annually with initiatives focusing on early childhood, community development, art, culture and sport.
Personally, her programme encouraged me to take part in an environmental-data science challenge hosted by a university. Her solid foundations helped me win first place even though I had no prior expertise. She empowers students to achieve what once felt impossible."
Colegio Real Royal School, Colombia
Regional winner for Latin America
Joanne Newman
"I would like to nominate Ms. Joanne Newman in recognition of the exceptional care, professionalism, and positive impact she has had on my daughter and our family.
At the time my daughter joined the school, our family was going through an extremely challenging period as my son was undergoing cancer treatment, which required frequent and sometimes extended hospital stays. My daughter is naturally sensitive and had never attended nursery before, so starting school was a major emotional and social transition for her.
From the very first day, Ms. Joanne Newman demonstrated outstanding empathy and dedication. She welcomed my daughter with warmth, held her, comforted her, and created a safe and nurturing environment where she immediately felt secure and valued. She gave her the attention she needed without ever making her feel fearful, sad, or different. Because of this, my daughter quickly settled in, gained confidence, and began to genuinely enjoy going to school every day.
For our family, Ms. Joanne Newman has been more than a teacher — she has been a source of emotional stability, reassurance, and genuine care during one of the most difficult periods of our lives. "
British International School Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Regional winner for Middle East & North Africa
Muhammet Aydin
"I would like to nominate Muhammet Aydın, an English teacher who is widely known in Türkiye as a volunteer ambassador for disadvantaged lives and one of the most inspiring educators of our time. I met Muhammet Aydın as a fellow teacher and project partner. Through his example, I learned that teaching is not only about instruction, but about standing firm in the face of injustice and continuing to serve, even when conditions are overwhelming.
His impact became even more visible during the 6 February 2023 earthquakes, one of the greatest disasters in Türkiye’s history. While tens of thousands lost their lives, Muhammet Aydın taught children in tents late into the night, stayed with those who had lost their parents and helped them reconnect with life and education. Some of these children, who once felt completely hopeless, went on to succeed in national university entrance exams because he refused to let them be forgotten.
Ask anyone in Türkiye who works with disadvantaged communities, and they will describe Muhammet Aydın as the hero of orphaned children, an extraordinary teacher, and one of the most influential educators of our generation. Yet despite his achievements, his greatest dream remains simple and deeply human: to bring hope and joy to children living under war, poverty, and injustice."
Mehmet Necati Vidinli Vocational and Technical Anatolian School, Türkiye
Regional winner for Europe
Elizabeth Seemann
"Mrs. Seemann is a dedicated and passionate teacher. She teaches Cambridge American History to our school's 11th grade students and has many students requesting to have her for another year of American History. She shares her love of the subject with all her students and guides them to learn the skills needed to be successful in their AS and A level exams.
She grades every student's paper in detail and gives constructive feedback for growth. She has encouraged students who could barely write more than a sentence to develop their skills enough to write a full paragraph in one school year. She has a love not just for the subject but for each student and her goal is to help every one of them to be more successful when leaving her class.
If a student needs support in home life for anything that is affecting them at school or in life, Mrs. Seemann makes a point to find help for them. She utilises her connections to help them with any area they may need. She has a huge heart and holds every student she teaches close to her heart."
Seminole Ridge Community High School, USA
Regional winner for North America
Abigail Agyeiwaa
"Abigail Agyeiwaa is an exceptionally dedicated educator whose work has transformed the lives of students, families, and entire communities.
What began as a personal passion to support vulnerable pupils evolved into the establishment of KAGAS Foundation Ghana, a non-governmental organisation through which Abigail has delivered sustained and measurable interventions in education, health, and livelihood support. Recognising that untreated wounds were preventing children from attending school, she voluntarily provided basic wound care to students. When she observed that many pupils attended school barefoot or in worn-out shoes, she mobilised resources to provide footwear and school uniforms restoring dignity and improving school attendance both in her school and in neighbouring communities. Abigail also trained schoolgirls to produce their own reusable sanitary pads, addressing menstrual hygiene challenges that previously caused absenteeism and school dropouts.
Abigail’s work as a teacher in advancing rural education in the Akuapem North Municipality has transformed the lives of vulnerable students and inspired fellow teachers, including myself, by redefining teaching as a tool for social change, raising professional standards, and restoring pride and purpose within the profession."
Mangoase Senior High School, Ghana
Regional winner for Sub-Saharan Africa
Shigang Ding
"My teacher is dedicated because he always puts students’ academic growth and emotional wellbeing first, going far beyond his basic duties to care for each student’s unique needs with patience and sincerity.
Last winter, my classmate missed school for three weeks and fell drastically behind in economics class. Overwhelmed, she could not catch up on her own. Our teacher spent 45 minutes every evening for two weeks video calling her, walking her through economics lessons step by step. He paused to calm her anxiety when she felt frustrated, created personalised practice worksheets for her learning pace, and checked in with her parents daily to share her progress and suggest ways to help her return to school comfortably. When she came back, he sat with her at lunch for a week to help her reconnect with peers and adjusted class activities to add low-pressure participation opportunities so she would not feel singled out.
This is not a one-time act but our teacher’s daily norm: he stays an hour late every Wednesday for free economics tutoring, remembers every student’s favourite snack and leaves it on their desk after tough tests, and proactively modifies lessons for students with learning differences."
Yiwu Qunxing Foreign Language School, China
Regional winner for East Asia
Velerie Wheelervon Primus
"As School Principal, I have personally witnessed the extraordinary leadership and dedication of Dr. Velerie Wheelervon Primus in transforming the landscape of special education in rural Sabah.
Dr. Velerie converted an abandoned teachers’ quarters into a fully equipped Multisensory Learning Centre to offer much-needed early occupational therapy services. This initiative not only provided early intervention access for neurodivergent students but also established a practical and sustainable inclusive education model for rural communities.
Since 2015, Dr. Velerie has led a self-funded Education Road Tour across Malaysia, driven by his deep concern for a silent humanitarian crisis affecting parents of neurodivergent children. Beyond the Road Tour, he remains active through workshops, podcasts, national television and radio interviews, and engagement with the Ministry of Education Malaysia.
He also developed a home-based NeuroArts Parenting Module integrating neuroscience, therapeutic movement, emotional regulation strategies, and arts-based interventions. This module empowers parents to conduct structured support and intervention at home, even in resource-limited environments."
Sekolah Kebangsaan Bingkor, Malaysia
Regional winner for Southeast Asia & Pacific
Aisha Kiran
"Aisha stands as a remarkable role model in education, combining academic excellence, student wellbeing, and community service into a unified mission of impact. As SPS (Student Protection & Safeguarding) Team Lead, she has led impactful student wellbeing initiatives, delivering structured sessions to parents and students that nurture students’ emotional and social development.
Her introduction of the “Worry Box” system in each class allowed students to anonymously share their concerns, fostering trust and ensuring timely support from teachers.
Demonstrating exceptional commitment beyond the classroom, she founded and leads We Humanitarian, organising welfare and educational initiatives for orphanages. This engages her students in meaningful community service and provides equal opportunities for education to all. Under Beaconhouse’s Impact 20 initiative, she delivered 20 hours of academic support to an underprivileged school, equipped their teachers with valuable resources, and continued mentorship even after the project concluded.
She also initiated the “Adopt-a-Class” project, empowering student mentors to support peer learning and promote educational equity. In addition, she manages an educational YouTube channel and produces instructional videos. She is also a published author of English and Urdu books in KPK and Punjab, reflecting her broader contribution to educational development and literacy."
Beaconhouse Liberty Campus, Pakistan
Regional winner for Pakistan
