#United States #Global Teacher Prize #Marilyn Pryle #Heinemann #Clarks Summit

Celebrating Excellence in Education: Marilyn Pryle's Journey to the Global Teacher Prize

In an inspiring recognition of educators worldwide, Marilyn Pryle has been named a Top 50 finalist for the 2025 Global Teacher Prize. This prestigious accolade, organized by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO, aims to highlight the essential roles teachers play in shaping future generations and nurturing communities.

Marilyn, a dedicated World Literature teacher based in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, has made significant contributions to her field and her local community. With a passion for teaching that transcends the classroom, she founded the Scranton English Conversation Group, specifically designed to assist the growing refugee population in her area. This initiative exemplifies how educators can extend their influence beyond academic boundaries, impacting diverse lives through education and support.

The final selection for the top 10 finalists will occur later this month, culminating in the announcement of the winner during the World Government Summit in Dubai, scheduled from February 11-13. Past recipients of this price have stood out for their extraordinary efforts, such as a Pakistani teacher who established a school for underprivileged children or an educator focused on innovating girls' education in rural India. The legacy of previous winners emphasizes the profound effects that dedicated teachers can have on their pupils and the surrounding communities.

Heinemann, the esteemed publisher that features Marilyn's professional work, expressed its pride in her recognition. Maggie DeMont, General Manager of Heinemann, stated: "We are thrilled to celebrate Marilyn as a Top 50 finalist for this year’s Global Teacher Prize. Her relentless quest to create a nurturing classroom environment that encourages student voice, self-expression, and critical thinking is truly commendable. It's a privilege for us to publish her latest professional resources and share her insights with educators across the globe."

Pryle is not a newcomer to impactful pedagogy. She has authored several books that focus on improving teaching methodologies, including Teaching Students to Write Effective Essays, Writing Workshop for Middle School, and her most recent work, 5 Questions for Any Text: Critical Reading in the Age of Disinformation. Released at the end of 2024, this book addresses the modern challenges educators face in fostering critical reading skills amidst the overwhelming presence of misinformation.

A National Board Certified educator, Marilyn’s career has traversed various educational landscapes, spanning middle school, high school, and even college levels. After earning her degree from The University of Scranton, her first teaching role took her to Kathmandu, Nepal, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Later, she completed an MFA in Creative Writing while teaching an 8th-grade writing workshop in Boston. The techniques and materials she developed during this period later contributed to her first published work.

Marilyn has also made strides in education research; her Ed.D. dissertation focused on the experiences of high school students participating in English conversation groups for refugees. This academic work aligns with her commitment to cultural understanding and global education, evidenced by her Fulbright Fellowship in the Teachers for Global Classrooms program in 2021.

Heinemann's dedication to supporting educators through professional resources embodies its mission to bolster teachers' efforts in nurturing empathetic and knowledgeable citizens. Their platform offers various materials, online courses, and workshops aimed at enhancing reading and writing skills—crucial components of learning.

For anyone interested in learning more about Marilyn Pryle's contributions or Heinemann's educational resources, connect with them online at Heinemann.com/teacherresources. As we celebrate educators like Marilyn, let us recognize the invaluable impact they have on the world. Their ability to inspire, innovate, and uplift communities through education remains unmatched, shining a light on the transformative power of teaching.