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| Dec 8, 2021

Jamaica-born Keishia Thorpe recognised by Maryland State Senate

/ Our Today

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Global Teacher Prize winner Keishia Thorpe with Maryland Senator Malcolm Augustine, who is also the CEO of the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Annapolis on Wednesday, December 7. (Photo contributed)

The plaudits have continued to come in for Jamaica-born educator Keishia Thorpe, who won the million-dollar Global Teacher Prize last month.

After being recognized on November 18 by the Board of Education of the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland for winning the prestigious international award, Thorpe was officially recognised by the Senate of Maryland on Wednesday, December 7.

On the State Legislative Floor of the State Senate Building in Annapolis, Senate President Bill Ferguson IV presented Thorpe with Senate Resolution No. 626 sponsored by Senator Malcolm Augustine and all members of the Senate of Maryland.

The resolution recognises Thorpe for being the Global Teacher Prize Winner 2021 and her teaching efforts in Prince George’s County Public Schools.

Thorpe, who was accompanied by the CEO of her school district, Dr Monica Goldson and her daughter, Jah’Kei Thorpe-Randolph, was gracious in her comments to the state senators.

“Since I have won the prestigious award of the Global Teacher Prize, it has been a whirlwind.  However, I am so humbled by all of my experiences.  I continue to carry the torch for students and teachers alike.  I consider all my moments a win for all of us,” said Thorpe to a standing ovation from members of the Senate.

(Photo contributed)

The Jamaica-born educator emerged victorious in the Global Teacher Prize from a pool of 8000 teachers from 121 countries across the globe who had been nominated or who had applied for the prestigious prize founded by the Varkey Foundation in 2015.

The Varkey Foundation is the philanthropic arm of GEMS Education, a company that owns and operates private K-12 GEMS schools in several countries including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Thorpe, who was born to modest circumstances in Jamaica, migrated to the United States to take up an athletic scholarship at Howard University. She now teaches at the International High School Langley Park in Bladensburg, Maryland.

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