Special Education,
SK Bingkor, Sabah
Dr. Velerie, a Special Education teacher at SK Bingkor, Sabah, believes that ‘Miracles Do Happen’. Inspired by his own special-needs child, Dr. Velerie’s ‘Miracles’ Teaching Plan is centred around a multisensory classroom with a Learning room for digital and STEM activities, a calming ‘Snoezelen’ room to support students with sensory overload, and a Play Therapy room with engaging activities. His approach has significantly improved communication and behavioural outcomes in 70% of his students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, with 10 of them mastering basic literacy skills. Dr. Velerie also involves parents in individualised education plans and promotes student creativity with projects like arts and crafts, affirming his belief that “Miracles Do Happen.”
Guru Besar
SK Dato’ Wan Kemara, Kedah
Cikgu Mohd Nizam is a headmaster who prioritises the professional development of his teachers and providing opportunities for his students. Through his efforts conducting workshops related to digital tools in education and securing funding to engage external experts, all teachers in his schools are accredited as Microsoft Innovative Educators (MIE) and 23 of them are accredited MIE Experts. He also secures funding to equip the classrooms within his schools with equipment such as smart TVs in order to enable his teacher to apply their learnt knowledge and skills. Furthermore, Cikgu Nizam organises an annual International Asean In Community Programme to expose his students to foreign guests and culture. As a result, 30% of his students have furthered their studies in high-performing schools such as MARA Junior Science Colleges and other boarding schools.
Visual Arts Education,
SK FELDA Mempaga 02, Pahang
Cikgu Huzaire is a dedicated educator at SK FELDA Mempaga 2, specialising in Visual Arts and Music. He has introduced innovative programs, such as abstract painting, which has enabled students to sell their artworks to local businesses, providing them with real-world financial skills. He has also established and led successful Nasyid and Kompang teams, along with other musical instruments, helping students excel in national competitions. His influence extends beyond the classroom, as he actively supports and advocates for the community, particularly for individuals with disabilities with his Kelab Guru OKU Malaysia
Remedial Bahasa Melayu & Mathematics,
SJKT Jalan Fletcher
Cikgu Kalaichelvi is a remedial teacher who ensures all students under her care are not left behind. She creates a structured plan to ensure her students progress from being illiterate to being able to rejoin their peers in the same year. Although her students have graduated from her remedial classes, she will still monitor their progress in the mainstream classroom during her free periods and provide support to other teachers in order to ensure they can keep up with the pace of learning. Beyond the classroom, she collaborates with external organisations to provide her students with basic support such as stationery and breakfast. At the state level, she is also chosen as a Champion Teacher for Pemulihan Khas.
Mathematics & Design Technology,
SK Raja Bahar, Kelantan
Cikgu Saifulnizan is an innovative STEM educator who brings the outside world into his classroom through interactive activities, such as learning about percentage fractions through shopping simulations or understanding coordinates using wooden slingshots and augmented reality. He involves his students, school, and the community in supporting the SDGs by creating a Herb Garden, Mathematical Garden, and a Used Cooking Oil Donation Project at the school. He has also transformed an old classroom into a Digital Classroom and Digital Maker Hub to promote STEM and Robotics Innovation among his students and the community. He collaborated with the Kelantan Disabled Foundation (Yayasan Orang Kurang Upaya Kelantan) by donating bookshelves and books for students and parents to read while attending therapy sessions. In addition, he is an active teacher mentor, having contributed to 60 teachers becoming Google Certified Educators, and represented Malaysia in 2023 as the Princess Maha Chakri Award Recipient in Thailand.
Home Economics,
SMK Badrul Alam Shah, Terengganu
Cikgu Shahira is a teacher who strongly believes in the importance of Home Economics as a platform to gain accessible skills for her students from the B40 community. Her experience in the subject is extensive with 22 years to date. She first pioneered for her current school to provide this subject in 2022 and currently it is the best performing school for the subject across the district of Kemaman. She actively involves her students in organising F&B preparations for school, district and state education official events as a training ground to hone their skills. She has also trained her students to sew their own napkins along with cloths for tables and chairs due to the high cost of buying them and they now sell these to other companies in the area. Upon graduation, many of her students have furthered their studies in this area and started their own business in sewing or F&B.
Headmaster,
SK RPS Dala (K9), Perak
Cikgu Nazri Ishak, leading SK RPS Dala K9, a school deep in the heart of Gerik, Perak, has made it his mission to uplift both students and fellow teachers alike. Recognising the unique challenges of teaching in a remote Sekolah Murid Orang Asli, he prioritises the wellbeing of his staff with the conviction that a motivated, supported teacher is key to unlocking student potential. Through initiatives like The Greater Dala and his hands-on approach to pedagogical improvement, Nazri ensures his teachers are equipped to engage students effectively. His creative methods in teaching Mathematics, particularly to Orang Asli students, have not only increased understanding but also sparked a genuine love for learning. Under his leadership, student outcomes have seen remarkable improvement, proving that with the right support and innovative approaches, any school can achieve excellence.
Bahasa Melayu & History,
SM Perempuan Cina Persendirian, Pulau Pinang
Cikgu Lim is a teacher in a Chinese Private Secondary Girls School who endeavours to change the perception of her students towards Bahasa Melayu and History by integrating cultural elements to inspire them. She takes the initiative to attend cultural workshops such as wau bulan and wayang kulit before inviting these trainers to her school and conduct these workshops for her own students and fellow teachers. Through follow up activities such as reflective essays and wayang kulit drama scripts, her students are motivated to learn the language. Recently, she even encouraged her students to practise Malay by reaching out to new Malay friends through a school visit to a religious school nearby. In the past 10 years, she has had a 100% passing rate for History.
Visual Arts Education,
SMK Hamzah 2, Kelantan
Cikgu Anita is a Visual Arts teacher who believes that the key towards education is gaining rapport and securing buy-in from students. To that end, she immerses herself in her students’ lives seven days a week, both at school and in a dedicated home studio. Coupled with her “LOVE” (Look, Observe, Value, Evaluate) method that prioritises deep personal engagement, she even co-wrote a paper with her students on the application of alternative resources to create drawings such as using coffee powder and soy sauce. Her hands-on, supportive approach has led her students to remarkable achievements, including a gold medal at the International High School Arts Festival in Japan and top awards in national sculpture competitions. Beyond the school, she is also the head trainer for Visual Arts in Kelantan and supports teacher trainees who specialise in Visual Arts.
Music Education,
SK Senawang, Negeri Sembilan
Cikgu Kamarul Shahril is a passionate Music teacher at SK Senawang, Seremban, who has taken the use of the recorder in his teaching to the next level. By incorporating viral and classic songs into his lessons, he has successfully engaged students and made music education accessible to all, particularly benefiting 60% of his students hailing from B40 families. His innovative approach has led to significant achievements, including nearly 700 students mastering the recorder, and his school’s music program becoming a viral sensation on social media. Cikgu Kamarul has also established a school band, as well as a ukulele team, combining these instruments with angklung and caklempong to create a unique mini-orchestra.
