A north London teacher has made it to the list of 10 finalists who are in the running for a multi-million dollar teaching price.
Andria Zafirakou, a teacher at Alperton Community School in Brent, is a strong contender for the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize, an annual award that recognises outstanding contribution made by a teacher.
Brent is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the country, and Zafirakou's efforts to ensure all her students feel included has been lauded both by the teaching fraternity as well as parents.
But it has not been an easy task. Students at her school spoke a wide range of languages including Gujarati, Hindi, Tamil and Portuguese, and Zafirakou has learnt basic greetings in as many as 35 languages as a step to connect with her pupils.
It has also helped her interact with parents who do not speak English.
On Tuesday, Bill Gates announced the nominations and paid tribute to the finalists, saying a great teacher could be "the most important factor" in whether students get a great education.
The Microsoft co-founder said: "When you think about what drives progress and improvement in the world, education is like a master switch - one that opens up all sorts of opportunities for individuals and societies.
"And research has shown that having a great teacher can be the most important factor that determines whether students get a great education."
Gates said all the finalists have proven their abilities to inspire and help students.
"Just as important, these teachers are leaders who have innovated in the classroom and mentored their colleagues," he added. "They have demonstrated the kind of collaboration - teachers and schools working together - that can give all students the opportunity to get a great education."
The other finalists are from Turkey, South Africa, Colombia, Philippines, United States, Brazil, Belgium, Australia and Norway.
"Such an honour to be selected alongside these incredible teachers. Thank you so much @TeacherPrize#teachersmatter#inspired," Zafirakou tweeted shortly after the nominees were announced.
The award will be presented at a ceremony in Dubai on March 18.
Vikram Doraiswami
Andrew Quintman
Lord Jitesh Gadhia 
