Kenyan Teacher In Florida Wins Lighthouse Award For Second Year In A Row

Mwalimu Peter Ndiang’u

For the second year in a row, a Kenyan teacher, won the Lighthouse Award in Florida. Peter Ndiang’ui, 55, fondly referred to as Mwalimu is a social studies teacher in Oasis High School in Cape Coral, Southwest Florida. He migrated to USA as an expatriate teacher in Atlanta International School in 1997. He stayed in Atlanta for five years before migrating to the warmer Florida.

Last week, he was shocked beyond words to find out that he was again the teacher of the year award winner. In presenting the award, Kevin Colpoys, the executive director of the foundation stated that the Lighthouse Award is a beacon of excellence in education. “It recognizes that there is a teacher who has shown excellence in every aspect of education. The award goes to the best teacher, to the person who demonstrated the best in education. There might be many good teachers but only one can be a Lighthouse Award winner. And that person in the high school this year is Peter Ndiang’ui”.

When he was informed that he had won the award in front of his students, Ndiang’ui was speechless which is rare. It is all because of you”, he told his geography students, who broke out in applause. “Thank you for giving me a chance to shine in this way”,he told them.

One of the students, Christina Krause, 15, stated that she voted for him because “He is a really good teacher. He works really hard for us.” Another student Frank Fernandez, 16, said he enjoys Ndiang’ui’s geography class because his teacher uses high-tech devices in the interactive white board systems called SMART boards. He also takes time to connect with every student individually. He is truly an exceptional teacher.

In receiving the award, Ndiang’ui noted that he did not think that there is a profession that gives so much satisfaction like teaching. I may not have a lot of money in the bank but I consider myself a very wealthy man because I have a lot of happiness derived from the satisfaction in seeing people grow,? he stated. He feels honored that he can travel anywhere in the world and meet very successful people who were at one time or another in his class. He accepted the award on behalf of the many unrecognized educators who work so hard to assist their students. 

Before migrating to United States, Ndiang’ui was a Dean and International Baccalaureate teacher in St. Mary’s School in Nairobi. He was also at one time the chairperson of the Nairobi Geography Teachers Association.

When asked about the key to his success, Ndiang’ui stated that he is only utilizing the gifts that God gave to him. He stated that he is also blessed to have a loving and supportive wife Priscilla by his side. Kenyans at home and in the Diaspora congratulate you Mwalimu. You are a role model for many. We are very proud of you.