In the bustling district of Yaba, Lagos, lies Blooming Greens School, a centre of educational excellence. At the heart of this institution is Mrs. Aanuoluwapo Olawole, an exceptional teacher whose dedication and innovative teaching methods have not only inspired her students but also garnered national recognition.
Recently awarded the 2024 Best Teacher in Nigeria Award, Mrs. Olawole stands out for her transformative power of education.
In this exclusive interview with Allaboutschools, we delve into her journey, exploring the philosophies and practices that have distinguished her as a leader in the field of education.
She shares insights and experiences that have propelled her to the pinnacle of teaching success.
Could you please introduce yourself?
Olawole Aanuoluwapo Itunu is my name. I’m a passionate teacher. I nurture young minds and stimulate their curiosity via the learning process.
Why did you become a teacher and what was the process that brought you here?
As a young adult, I discovered my love for impacting young minds. This drive triggered in me the longing to make professional, my passion and led to my pursuit of a Postgraduate degree, several training and a career in Education.
You recently won the award as the best teacher in Lagos state and the best in Nigeria for approved private Schools in Lagos & Nigeria 2024, how did you achieve such a feat?
The Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Lagos State is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that schools maintain the expected standard of education within the state. This involves periodic inspection exercises.
As a Science teacher, I ignite a passion for science in my pupils, helping them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills via the use of technology, activity-based learning experience within and beyond the classroom. These qualities didn’t go unnoticed by the Quality Assurance Team (District IV), Ministry of Education, Lagos State during their comprehensive inspection exercise in my school, Blooming Greens School, Yaba, Lagos.
After the exercise, I was selected as the most outstanding teacher in the school and my name was submitted at the district level to be nominated for 2024 PRESIDENT’S TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE AWARD. This nomination led to state level screening exercise, involving nominated teachers from different districts in which I excelled as the best in Lagos State. Being the best at State level, I represented Lagos State at the Federal level screening and won as well.
So, in achieving this, I will say my passion for teaching and willingness to put in the hard work, the enabling environment of Blooming Greens School and God’s strength made me a true example of dedication to my profession, Hence the achievement.
Could you tell us the role Blooming Greens School played to enable you to achieve this?
Blooming Greens School is an enabling environment for teaching and learning. This feat was achieved with the enablement of BGS. At BGS I grew, and I am still developing as an educator via several mechanisms and motivations. The Motto of the school “Committed to Excellence” makes me thrive towards being the best, which paid off via evident qualities, singling me out for excellence.
Also, BGS encourages innovation, excellence in teaching, recognition and celebration of teacher’s success. So, all through the screening phase, I had the full support of the CEO, Mrs Susan Babatunde Yamah, the management and staff of BGS.
What do you see in Blooming Greens that makes the school different from others?
Blooming Greens School is an environment structured with mutual respect and customer service at the work place. We leverage technology to enhance communication and collaboration in teaching and learning. Access to resources and support for teachers creates a positive school culture that encourages innovation and excellence in teaching. Also, recognition and celebration of teacher’s success is a norm.
Could you share the key milestones and challenges in your teaching career that have shaped you into the award-winning teacher you are today?
Throughout my teaching career, there have been several key milestones and challenges that have helped shape me into the educator I am today. I view each of these moments as an opportunity for growth, both professionally and personally.
Milestones:
Early in my career, I began to develop a student-centered philosophy and learned the importance of creating a safe, engaging learning environment where my pupils could thrive.
With more experience, I made it a point to pursue ongoing professional development, through workshops, conferences, or collaborations with colleagues. Implementing these strategies had an immediate impact on my ability to reach and engage a wider range of students.
A major one was transitioning into leadership roles where I could work alongside other educators as a mentor and collaborator with had the opportunity to co-teach with a diverse group of colleagues in which I began to understand the power of teamwork and how sharing ideas and strategies could benefit not only students but also fellow educators.
Mastermind of the ‘Young Innovators Challenge’ into the school curriculum, in which project based learning approach is utilised to the maximum.
Commendable results of my pupils in local and international exams.
Diverse awards won and commendations.
Challenges:
Over the years, I’ve taught increasingly diverse classrooms, and this posed both a challenge and an opportunity. I worked hard to develop strategies that support all learners, including students with learning disabilities, Though it can be overwhelming at times, it reinforced my belief that every student can succeed with the right support.
There is a time constraint in bringing pupils who are low achievers up to speed. However, I leverage virtual and digital classroom in making up for that time, using adequate resources. This has helped me tremendously in bridging these learning gaps making such pupils attain grade level expectation on the long run.
Balancing administrative responsibilities and teaching: As I advanced in my career, I took on more leadership roles. However, I’ve learned that effective leadership involves both supporting colleagues and maintaining a student-first mindset.
What innovative teaching strategies or methodologies do you employ in your classroom that you believe set you apart and contributed to your recognition as the best teacher in Nigeria?
I constantly seek new and creative ways to engage my pupils in the learning process via integration of modern technology into lessons, using interactive tools and digital resources to make complex concepts more accessible and enjoyable. Student-centred and project based learning via hands-on activities, collaborative project and real-world applications to making learning both relevant and exciting.
How do you measure the impact of your teaching on your students, and could you provide an example of a significant breakthrough or success story from your classroom?
I measure this in different ways: an increase in class engagement, curiosity and interest of my pupils on learned concepts via questioning.
Commendable performance of pupils in formative and summative assessments.
Progressive practical skills like writing, lab work, or problem-solving
Success of pupils beyond the classroom; achievements in competitions, projects, or presentations. For success stories, I‘ve had pupils who initially struggled with understanding concepts in science, had difficulty connecting theoretical knowledge to real-world applications. This stemmed from a lack of confidence, rather than a lack of ability.
I adopted more hands-on projects, to improve practical application. This originated the “Young Innovators Challenge” a project-based approach that allowed them to build a model or prototype based on the concepts learnt. This shift in learning style was a turning point such that as the pupils worked through their projects, their understanding deepened. At the end, not only had their grades improved significantly, but they also developed a passion for Science. These projects were presented in open house events of the school, for science exhibition. It was a “wow” moment for me.
In what ways do you engage in professional development to continuously improve your teaching skills and stay updated with the latest educational trends?
Continuous development is key in any career path so you are not redundant. Blooming Greens School is big on teacher training and I have developed a lot a skills in lieu of that. Also, personally, I collaborate with colleagues to discover, research, then enroll for trainings in order to build skills in line with best practices in the teaching industry, both locally and internationally.
What advice would you give to new teachers who aspire to make a significant impact in their schools and possibly achieve similar recognition in their careers?
My advice is to build capacity to be an exemplary teacher irrespective of where you are at the moment. Be highly disciplined and known for unwavering commitment to excellence in both teaching methods and classroom management. Be a strong advocate for developing good character and responsibility in your students, preparing them for success not only in academics but also, in all areas of life. Finally, be consistent in and out of season.
Having achieved this award, what are your future goals in the field of education, and how do you plan to further contribute to the development of teaching and learning in Nigeria?
Definitely, I won’t rest on my oars in ensuring that excellence in the teaching and learning process becomes my legacy. Also, collaboration with, and mentoring of teachers via continuous training and different platforms with the intention of refurbishing the outlook of the teaching profession and is something I will continually advocate for. In the long run, with these, the positive influence of ‘teacher excellence’ can spread, hereby developing the quality of teachers, pupils and the teaching and learning process in Nigeria.
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