The world’s best teacher has been named and awarded the $1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2017 at a special ceremony in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last weekend.

The Global Teacher Prize is the largest prize of its kind, and was set up three years ago to recognise one super teacher who has done something extraordinary in their profession. The award also shines a spotlight on all teachers everywhere, in every classroom across the globe, and reminds us how important teachers are to all of us.

Narrowed down from 20,000 teachers, ten finalists – teachers from all over the world – travelled to Dubai last weekend to attend the Global Education & Skills Forum, to find out whether they were this year’s winner of the $1 million Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.

In an “out of this world” announcement from the International Space Station from French astronaut Thomas Pesquet, finalist Maggie MacDonnell, a teacher from the Canadian Arctic, was crowned this year’s top teacher.

Soon after Maggie was given her award, First News junior reporter Charlie interviewed her backstage. Check out the video above and look out for Maggie’s mad dabbing skills.

Click here to watch Thomas’ announcement from the International Space Station.

Click here to watch a video all about Maggie and learn about her life back home in Canadian Arctic.

Read more about the First News team’s trip to the Global Education and Skills Conference in Dubai in the latest issue of First News.