Colombia shines once again on the international stage in the field of education. Professor Joshue Castellanos Paternina has been selected among the 10 best teachers in the world. The Colombian educator is one of the 10 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize 2026, the most prestigious recognition for teachers worldwide. This achievement not only highlights his personal career but also elevates the country’s name in a competition that gathered more than 5,000 nominations from 139 countries.
The Global Teacher Prize, organized by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with UNESCO, honors educators each year who have transformed the lives of their students and communities. The winner will receive a one-million-dollar award, to be presented at a ceremony in Dubai in February 2026. Beyond the financial incentive, being among the finalists is already considered a world-class honor, reserved for those who represent excellence and innovation in teaching.
Who is the Colombian teacher among the 10 best in the world at the Global Teacher Prize?
Joshue Castellanos Paternina is an English teacher at the Ceprodent Study Center in Colombia’s Monteria, Cordoba, and has established himself as a mentor and social leader. Since 2017, he has impacted more than 45,000 students through motivational talks, academic support, and guidance programs in rural and vulnerable communities.
During the 2020 pandemic, he launched PreICFESApp, a free digital platform that prepares young people aged 13 to 17 in the main areas of the Colombian curriculum. Today, this initiative benefits more than 300,000 students across the country.
In 2022, he founded the Alcanza una Beca Foundation, through which he has awarded more than 700 scholarships and helped thousands of young people gain access to sustainable educational opportunities. His model combines technology, personalized mentoring, and socio-emotional support, focusing not only on academic performance but also on students’ holistic development.
The requirements of the Global Teacher Prize
The Global Teacher Prize evaluates teachers based on criteria that go beyond the classroom. The organization seeks to identify educators capable of generating a real and lasting impact in their communities. Among the main requirements considered are:
- Impact on students’ lives and the community, measured through academic, social, and personal improvements.
- Innovation in teaching, including the use of new methodologies and technological tools.
- Inspiration and educational leadership, reflected in the ability to motivate other teachers and students.
- Ability to overcome challenges and drive sustainable change in difficult contexts.
The 10 finalists of the Global Teacher Prize 2026
The Global Teacher Prize 2026 received more than 5,000 nominations from 139 countries. After a rigorous selection process, the Varkey Foundation and UNESCO announced the 10 finalist teachers who now represent educational excellence worldwide:
- Adeola Olufunke Akinsulure – Nigeria.
- Alfonso Filippone – Italy.
- Ana Hernandez Revuelta – Spain.
- Colleen O’Rourke – Australia.
- Ewa Stefania Drobek – Poland.
- Gloria Argentina Cisneros – Argentina.
- Jasmyn Nicole Wright – United States.
- Joshue Castellanos Paternina – Colombia.
- Rouble Nagi – India.
- Timothy James Stiven – United States.