Alumni Blog: Ioanna Zafeiriou

Former Essex student, Ioanna Zafeiriou, was selected as one of the Top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize.

Ioanna graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2003. Most recently she has been recognised as a Top 50 finalist for the Global Teacher Prize in recognition of her work, illustrating the transformative potential of education and inspiring students to embrace their roles as active and informed global citizens.

Ioanna spent a year studying at Essex as a Socrates student, taking courses in both the Department of Language & Linguistics and the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies. She said she chose Essex “not just for the range of courses on offer, but also the location and beautiful parkland.”

Ioanna lived on campus at the Houses and spent countless hours at the Albert Sloman Library as well as the Lakeside Theatre where she built friendships with people from all around the world - many which have lasted to this day. Ioanna said “My year at Essex remains one of the happiest times of my life.”

Since graduating, Ioanna returned to Greece where she has been working as a state school teacher of English in Secondary Education since 2005. She has also served as a Community Councillor in Neapoli (Municipality of Neapoli-Sykies) since 2014. Ioanna has received numerous awards at the national ELT Excellence Awards and Education Leaders Awards, and in 2024 she was named “Educator of the Year”. Internationally, she has twice been shortlisted as a finalist for the GESS Education Awards (2023, 2024), and in 2025 she was selected among the Top 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize.

The selection process for the Global Teacher Prize is incredibly rigorous and highly competitive. Thousands of educators from across the globe submit their most impactful and innovative teaching practices, hoping to be recognized for their contributions to education. Candidates are evaluated on a range of criteria, including originality in teaching methods, measurable impact on students and communities, and a demonstrated commitment to continuously improving the learning experience.

We are delighted that Ioanna has been selected as one of the Top 50 finalists for 2025 – with 5,000 fellow applicants coming from over 89 countries. As a finalist, Ioanna will now serve as a Global Teacher Prize Ambassador, allowing her to continue advocating for innovation, equity, and collaboration in education and helping to shape the global conversation around teaching and learning.

Ioanna says “As a Global Teacher Prize Ambassador, I am filled with anticipation and excitement about the opportunity to inspire and collaborate with educators from around the world. It’s a privilege to be part of such a dynamic community that strives to innovate, empower, and make a lasting impact in education.”

“My entire experience at the University of Essex was invaluable!”