The Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania has joined, as an educational partner, the "Teacher of the Year 2025" campaign, organized by Mirela Retegan and the Zurli Foundation, an initiative that brings to the forefront the vocation, patience and creativity of primary and pre-school teachers.
Now in its ninth year, the 'Teacher of the Year' campaign is looking for teachers who succeed, through empathy and consistency, in making the classroom a safe and trusting place where children can learn with joy. It is an initiative that focuses on the relationship between teacher and pupil in the crucial early years.
The partnership with the Zurli Foundation is a natural complement to the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania's efforts to support teachers who are not discouraged by deprivation or inequalities. Those who find solutions must team up with parents, look for better methods and trust that every child can learn if they are seen and supported.
"Every teacher we've reached in the last 9 years deserves a special place on a special panel of honor to be the most dedicated teachers in Romania. I can't wait to meet the teacher of the year 2025," said Mirela Retegan, founder of the Zurli Foundation and initiator of the campaign.
The teacher selected for the Zurli Foundation's campaign will be honoured by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, along with her entire class. The winner of the "Teacher of the Year 2025" campaign will be included in the list of 20 finalists of the national campaign "Exceptional Teachers League", 2025 edition. This flagship project of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania brings to public attention teachers who do not stop at the curriculum, but build, day after day, authentic relationships with students and open new paths.
In an education system marked by the departure of young people from teaching, the ageing of teaching staff and the widening urban-rural divide, such initiatives are essential. The "Teacher of the Year" campaign and the "Exceptional Teachers League" are clear in their recognition of teachers who care for their children, who persevere and who make a real difference to their profession, even in challenging circumstances.
The partnership between the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania and the "Zurli" Foundation is a natural step for those who believe that, beyond programs and reforms, education is based on people. When good teachers are supported, society as a whole wins.
