Polish teacher Ewa Drobek is among the top 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2026, known as the “Teacher’s Nobel,” with a chance to win $1 million.
Ewa Drobek: 25 Years of Educational Excellence
In the Global Teacher Prize 2026 competition, also known as the “Teacher’s Nobel,” Ewa Drobek has made it to the top 10. No Polish teacher has reached this stage in the competition before. The winner will receive a $1 million prize.
Ewa Drobek teaches English and German at XV Liceum Ogólnokształcące z Oddziałami Dwujęzycznymi im. Narcyzy Żmichowskiej in Warsaw. She is also a class advisor and initiates educational projects for which she has received 15 awards.
Innovative Teaching Methods and Social Impact
According to the justification for the award, Drobek has 25 years of teaching experience and a real impact on the lives of thousands of students. In her work, she uses innovative foreign language teaching methods, implements artistic projects, and consistently promotes values such as equality, empathy, and high-quality education.
She places special emphasis on integration – supporting students with disabilities, refugees, and those at risk of exclusion. She is the author of 76 publications for teachers, co-author of two e-books on innovation and combating disinformation translated into foreign languages, and a mentor in leading educational foundations, including in the Schools with Class and Teach for Poland programs.
Teacher’s Quote on Her Journey
“When I fly to Dubai, I will represent Poland with great humility and joy, remembering that nothing will change when I return. Again, the most important thing will be what happens between me and my students in small room 210. How I teach them, what I show them, what opportunities I give them. How I behave and whether I am authentic, real. How hard I try for them to leave school with strong wings and want to come back with joy,” said the teacher, quoted by PAP, when it was announced that she was among the 50 finalists.
About the Global Teacher Prize
The Global Teacher Prize has been organized by the Varkey Foundation in cooperation with UNESCO since 2015. Its aim is to recognize teachers, highlight their profession, and promote innovative teaching methods. The best teachers from around the world change people’s lives through education. Whether they teach in remote villages or introduce innovations in city center schools, they promote inclusivity, defend children’s rights, and drive positive change.
