Cicely Lewis, the media specialist at Meadowcreek High School, is a finalist for the $1 million Global Teacher Prize from the Varkey Foundation.
The award is presented annually to an educator who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession. It is open to every country in the world, subject to local laws. Lewis is one of 50 finalists.
More than 8,000 were nominated from 121 countries, according to the foundation.
Lewis started the “Read Woke” program in 2017 in response to questions from students about immigration and police shootings of Black boys, according to the Varkey Foundation. Students became more engaged in reading and teachers changed their reading lists in response, according to the foundation.
Lewis personalized the program for special needs students and expanded it to “Tech Woke,” which uses technology to help solve social justice issues, learn literacy and promote digital citizenship.
She also launched a “Vote Woke” challenge promoting voter registration, earning her congratulations from former First Lady Michelle Obama.
Lewis has raised money for Gwinnett County Public Schools’ bookmobile and volunteers in the summer on the mobile library.
School Library Journal in March 2020 named her national School Librarian of the Year.
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