This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Peter Tabichi, the Kenyan teacher who won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize, to the White House on Monday.
Tabichi, a Mathematics and Science teacher from Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Nakuru, was recognized for his selfless nature, giving away 80% of his salary to help needy students.
“His dedication, hard work, and belief in his student’s talent has led his poorly resourced school in Kenya to emerge victorious after taking on the country’s best schools in national science competitions. Peter, you inspire us all! Thank you for your commitment to your students,” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said.
Tabichi is in the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), where he will address the 74th session to share his insights on how he managed to excel as a teacher in a community where poverty is widespread.
Some of his students have represented Kenya at global competitions, even winning the Ksh.202,000 U.N. Sustainable Development Goal Award in May.
Tabichi attributes his success to his father, who he described as ‘generous with his pupils and his time.’
“His dedication to the community convinced me that teaching was the most important job I could do,” Tabichi said.
Since winning the Varkey Foundation $1 million (Ksh.100 million) Global Teacher Prize in March, Tabichi has been invited as a speaker to global summits in South Africa, Botswana, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, and the U.S.
Tabichi is a member of the Franciscan religious order, a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the early 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi.
