To help you to focus your nomination, we have the following criteria:
- Preparing learners to be ready for the world.
Recognise teachers who prepare students for a changing world and equip them with knowledge, skills and attributes to succeed in higher education, the workplace, and as a global citizen. - Championing climate change education.
Highlight teachers who lead the way in climate change awareness and education, both in the classroom and community activities. This could be through innovative lesson plans or projects. - Exceptional pastoral care and inclusion.
Celebrate teachers who embed diversity and inclusivity, promote well-being and support emotional and social development. Making sure education is accessible to all helping students feel valued and capable of achieving their potential.
Mark Winterbottom
Mark joined the Faculty of Education in 2002, and teaches on the Science/Biology secondary PGCE course (for which he also acts as Senior Examiner) and on the MEd course for science teachers and practitioners. Mark’s current research interests are in teacher education, assessment, inquiry-based science education, use of technology in teaching and learning, and classroom environment.
Rod Smith
Rod is the Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. During this time, he has launched an Education Reform business, which is establishing a position of practical thought leadership in this rapidly changing sector- winning substantial contracts with Governments in countries that include Kazakhstan, the Maldives, UAE and Oman.
Who better to judge the 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards than the 2023 winner! Akeem is a primary teacher at St Michael RCM Primary School in Nigeria. Teaching in a one room-school without electricity, Akeem caught the judges’ eye with a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) project that combined model making to promote inquisitiveness, creativity and critical thinking, and for his work as TeachSDG (sustainable development goals) Ambassador.
Akeem Badru
Farhat Deeba
Farhat is an educationist and researcher with distinctions in B.Sc. Hons, M.Sc. & CAIE PDQ teaching & learning. She has a PGC & PDQ in Educational Leadership and has had publications in Phytochemistry (UK), Planta Medica (USA) and Cambridge Outlook Magazine. Farhat is a former Head of Biology at Karachi Grammar School, lecturer at Hamdard University and Cambridge Assessment International Education teacher trainer, and has reviewed books and developed teachers resources for Cambridge University Press. She is interested in education, bioinformatics, neuroscience, AI and blockchain.
Kennedy Ombuni
A seasoned mathematics and further mathematics teacher with a decade of experience, Kennedy has dedicated his career to cultivating a passion for mathematics among students in Kenya and Tanzania. Recognized in the top 50 Dedicated Teacher Awards in 2019, he brings a wealth of expertise to the classroom. Kennedy's commitment extends beyond traditional teaching, encompassing innovative approaches to make mathematics accessible and enjoyable for learners, fostering a love for the subject that lasts a lifetime.
Dr Brian Li
Brian has been teaching Lower Secondary science and chemistry for more than ten years and is currently teaching at Invictus Secondary School in Hong Kong. His goal as a science educator is to ignite students' enthusiasm for learning science. Brian focuses on nurturing students' practical skills, cultivating a positive learning mindset, and fostering an appreciation for the role of science in our daily lives.
Shaheen Shaikh
Shaheen is a dedicated and accomplished educator, serving as the First Language English Teacher at RIMS International School & Junior College, India. She has a rich academic background: Bachelor’s in Computer Science; B.Ed.; Master's in English Linguistics; M.Ed.; recipient of the Cambridge University Press award for Impactful Classroom Learning; a Certified English, math, and science tutor and a freelance graphic designer. Shaheen's commitment to education is evident through her contributions to curriculum design and teacher training.
Michael Mawutor Agordzo
Michael is a dedicated and passionate educator with a wealth of experience in teaching and academic support for over 14 years. He is a Cambridge-trained teacher at DPS International, Ghana. Michael also spearheads prestigious events like the Spelling Bee, Hippo English, All Girls Debate, The Orators Competition, and The Queens Commonwealth Essay where he has achieved notable success on both national and international levels.
Chris Green
Chris is Director of the English and Drama faculty at The Perse School, Cambridge, UK. He is also Principal Examiner for A-Level English Literature with a major UK awarding body, and Co-editor of the English Association’s journal, The Use of English. Chris is the author of a number of publications - including a recent edition of The Merchant of Venice. In other roles, Chris contributes towards the work of the English-Speaking Union, the Chartered College of Teaching and the National Association for the Teaching of Drama.
Judging
Contact Us
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© 2024 Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Regional winners are chosen by an experienced panel of judges comprised of current teachers, educational specialists and authors, as well as the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Press & Assessment board members.
Judges are looking for nominations that are about something a teacher said or did that meant a lot to you. Tell us about a specific time or memory. The more focused you can be about that one thing, the more your nomination will stand out to the judges.
Teachers often have a profound effect on their learners, sometimes without really knowing the legacy they have. Our judges are looking for the impact of a teacher's actions, both on their students and on themselves. Remember, actions don't have to be grand to make a big difference to a learner's life. It can be as simple as a kind word at a difficult time.
Judging criteria
Lauren is Assessment Accessibility Advisor at Cambridge. Her role centres on developing the accessibility of Cambridge International qualifications alongside raising awareness of the spectrum of special educational needs and disabilities as well as the potential barriers to learning and assessment that such conditions may cause. As a former a member of a school leadership team with fourteen years’ school-based experience, she has coordinated provision for and supported students with special educational needs and disabilities, and students with mental health, medical, behavioural and pastoral care needs. She has been a safeguarding lead, SENDCo and exams access arrangements assessor.
Meet out judges
Lauren Woods
Mark joined the Faculty of Education in 2002, and teaches on the Science/Biology secondary PGCE course (for which he also acts as Senior Examiner) and on the MEd course for science teachers and practitioners. Mark’s current research interests are in teacher education, assessment, inquiry-based science education, use of technology in teaching and learning, and classroom environment.
Mark Winterbottom
Pooja is the Head of Primary at The Ardee School, New Delhi, India and an academic advisor to The Ardee School, Goa. With 16 years of experience in education, she holds a master's degree in international business and is a certified Montessori educator. She is also a Cambridge trainer and has contributed to Cambridge blogs.
Pooja Bhatia
Paola is an experienced educator who has been teaching since 2003.Over the past 8 years, she has specialised in teaching IGCSE™ courses, covering various topics including geography and climate change. Her passion for teaching and innovation in the classroom has driven her career for the past 20 years. In addition to her professional dedication, Paola is sociable and enjoys meeting new people, which has fueled her love for travelling and exploring diverse cultures.
Paola Izzi
With 32 years of teaching experience and 27 years as a senior leader, James Greenwood is currently the Head of Primary at Kent College, West Cairo. James has led 3 primary schools in the UK, trained as an Ofsted inspector and is an international inspector, having inspected schools in Dubai and Thailand. Additionally, James has been a lead reviewer with Challenge Partners, a network of over five hundred schools in the UK. This role involved helping to develop schools across the UK. Having visited hundreds of classrooms, James still believes that the best teachers make the biggest difference in education around the world.
James Greenwood
Dave Rodrigues has over 30 years of diverse experience, including 14.5 years at the World Bank Group. His expertise spans across various fields such as accounting, business, project management and financial services. Currently, Dave is a facilitator at Heartfulness International School, where he teaches accounting and business studies. He has also taken on numerous academic roles and responsibilities, including participating in market research studies, setting teacher recruitment entrance exam papers, and organising career fairs.
Dave Rodrigues
Rod is the Managing Director of International Education at Cambridge University Press & Assessment. During this time, he has launched an Education Reform business, which is establishing a position of practical thought leadership in this rapidly changing sector- winning substantial contracts with Governments in countries that include Kazakhstan, the Maldives, UAE and Oman.
Rod Smith