PM Holness Meets With Jamaican-born Keishia Thorpe, Winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2021

January 28, 2022January 28, 2022 News Room

January 29, 2022 | Vision Newspaper |

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness took to social media to congratulate Jamaican born teacher Keishia Thorpe, winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize, after a recent courtesy call with the PM.

The winner of the annual Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize is awarded to a teacher who has made an outstanding professional contribution. Keishia Thorpe was awarded the prize in November 2021 at a ceremony held in Paris.

Keishia Thorpe currently teaches English to 12th-grade students at the International High School Langley Park, Bladensburg, Maryland, United States, a school where 100% of her students are English language learners and 95% identify as low-income.

She was selected from over 8,000 nominations and applications for the Global Teacher Prize from 121 countries around the world.

“Jamaican-born Keishia Thorpe has been named the winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2021, in partnership with UNESCO. I recently had a courtesy call with Keishia, during which she shared her inspirational story. I took the opportunity to congratulate her on winning this prestigious award and thanked her for her outstanding contributions to the education sector.” tweeted the PM Holness.

This years Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2021 was sponsored by UNESCO.

(1/2) Jamaican-born Keishia Thorpe has been named the winner of the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2021, in partnership with UNESCO.

I recently had a courtesy call with Keishia, during which she shared her inspirational story. pic.twitter.com/kQk0yWCORI

— Andrew Holness (@AndrewHolnessJM) January 28, 2022

“UNESCO was proud host to this year’s Global Teacher Prize ceremony at our headquarters in Paris. Inspirational teachers and extraordinary students alike deserve recognition for their commitment to education amid the learning crisis we see today. Now more than ever, we must honor and support our teachers and students as they look to rebuild a better world in the wake of COVID.” said Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO.

SOURCE @AndrewHolnessJM, Global Teacher Prize