‘Best teach’ wows B’klyn high school

The world’s top teacher visited a school in Brooklyn on Wednesday — and felt she was the one lucky to be there.

Global Teacher Prize winner Andria Zafirakou felt “absolutely superprivileged” to visit James Madison High School. The art teacher from London sat in on ceramics and music classes, watched students do magic tricks, did a Q&A session, critiqued students’ artwork and toured the school.

Zafirakou (photo) is in New York to speak to the UN General Assembly. She was invited to James Madison by Melissa Morris, a Global Teacher Prize finalist who teaches at the Brooklyn school.

In every class she sat in on, her Global Teacher Prize trophy was passed around for each student to hold. Zafirakou wore a smile everywhere she went, inspiring students.

“When you move to Brooklyn, come work in this school,” Shohinabonu Mahsudeva, a student from Uzbekistan, said.

In the music class Zafirakou visited, the students showed her a video project in which they played a song with musicians all across the world through video-calling. Zafirakou shouted with joy when the performance finished.

“Do you realize how professional that was? I’d pay to see that in concert,” exclaimed Zafirakou.

“We’ll hold you to that,” a student replied.

A student asked about bringing world peace through music. Zafirakou believes it can be done. “You are the ones that are here to make change. We are now looking to you,” she said.

A school tour led by student ambassador and band member Richie Garcia concluded the day spent with the world’s best teacher.

They viewed students’ murals and stopped in a fashion class that used the same curriculum as her London school.

“I feel like I’m at home. I’m happy and comfortable here. This is my normal world. To be in a different country but still in my element is amazing,” remarked Zafirakou.