Good luck, Nancie Atwell!

Nancie is one of 50 worldwide finalists for the million-dollar Global Teacher Prize, a new award that “seeks to do for education what the Nobel Prize has done for science, literature, and peace.” We are so excited for Nancie that her commitment to a progressive, student-centered practice and her hugely important innovations have been recognized in this once-in-a-lifetime way—and that she has a chance at even wider worldwide recognition.

We are grateful and proud to have brought the story of Nancie’s career to countless teachers as the publisher of three editions of In the Middle and numerous other powerful resources. Outside of the students, parents, and teachers at the Center for Teaching and Learning, we know as well as anyone how richly she deserves to be honored.

Nancie was announced as a top-50 finalist in December, and in the middle of this month, she will learn whether she has reached the top-10. If so, she will travel to Dubai for a ceremony celebrating the work of all ten finalists and announcing the winner of the $1 million award. If she wins, Nancie has pledged the money to the Center for Teaching and Learning, the school she started in Edgecombe, Maine.

2015 is the inaugural awarding of the Varkey Gems Foundation’s Global Teacher Prize. This annual award is given to one educator who is an "innovative and caring teacher who has made an inspirational impact on their students and their community." The Varkey GEMS Foundation is a philanthropic extension of Global Education Management Systems that operates private K–12 schools around the world. President Bill Clinton serves as its honorary chairman.

Nancie spoke with The Portland Press Herald about the important work being done at her school in Maine. Click here to read more about Nancie and the award: http://www.pressherald.com/2015/01/07/maine-educator-a-finalist-for-1-million-global-prize/

Watch this space and @HeinemannPub for updates on Nancie’s progress as well as coverage of her school and her work.