Six teachers from southern Moldova were honoured at the Innovative Teacher Gala, held on 6 November 2026 at the Inotek Centre. Each recipient received an award of MDL 10,000 for their commitment to advancing digital education, applying modern teaching methods and supporting educational activities for children and young people.

“Behind every successful educational initiative are dedicated teachers who have the courage to innovate, inspire and create new opportunities for their students. This gala is not only an occasion to recognise achievements, but also a celebration of the people who contribute every day to transforming education in the southern region. At the Inotek Centre, we believe that supporting teachers and recognising the value of their initiatives are essential to developing an education that is modern, inclusive and connected to the opportunities of the future,” said Nicolae Mocanu, Administrator of the Inotek Centre.

The teachers honoured at this edition were Constantin Morari, Inna Porubin, Lilia Zanet, Ina Terzi, Svetlana Gudi and Natalia Popușoi. Their work spans areas such as programming and web development, digital education, graphic design, emotional intelligence and robotics.

The event highlighted the contribution of teachers who put their professional development into practice in their work with students, guide them towards participation in competitions and create opportunities for them to apply what they learn.

“The Innovative Teacher Gala is a special event that promotes excellence, creativity and innovation in education. It recognises and celebrates teachers whose professionalism and dedication contribute to modernising the educational process. The event honours teachers who adopt new teaching practices, enabling students to benefit from modern, engaging learning methods that develop their skills and critical thinking. At the same time, the event encourages educational communities to be curious, confident in their abilities and open to achievement and innovation,” noted Maria Bichir, Head of the Cahul General Directorate of Education.

This year’s award categories

This year, the Innovative Teacher awards were presented in four categories, recognising teachers’ contributions to modernising teaching, developing students’ skills, advancing digitalisation in schools and supporting the Inotek Centre’s educational initiatives.

“Education must become a priority for central and local authorities through policies and actions that motivate young people to study and develop into skilled professionals in different fields. The teacher’s role becomes even more important in providing guidance and innovating in teaching methods, motivation and so on. The ability to distinguish relevant information from the rest will make a difference in education in the future as well. We must recruit the best and keep them in teaching,” said Nicolae Dandiș, Mayor of Cahul.

In the Innovation in Teaching Methods category, awards were presented to Lilia Zanet, from the “Enichioi” Public Gymnasium in the village of Enichioi, Cantemir District, and Constantin Morari, from the “Mihai Eminescu” Gymnasium in the commune of Baimaclia, Cantemir District. Both teachers use digital education, video storytelling and web development to connect learning with practical activities. In 2026, Lilia Zanet and her students received an honourable mention in the “Tekwill Junior Ambassadors” competition, while Constantin Morari took part in the semi-final in the web development category for lower secondary students. Both attended the 2025 and 2026 editions of EdTech.

“Through the Innovative Teacher Gala, we wanted to bring to the forefront teachers who transform their students’ learning experience through dedication, creativity and openness to new technologies. We are delighted that the southern region has teachers who not only adopt innovative teaching methods, but also inspire and educate a new generation ready to face the challenges of the future. This Gala is a gesture of recognition and appreciation for their efforts, as well as encouragement to continue bringing change to education,” Ana Chirița, Director of Strategic Projects at ATIC

The Leader in Developing Future Professionals award was presented to Ina Terzi, from the “Mihail Sadoveanu” Public Theoretical Lyceum in the village of Giurgiulești, Cahul District, and Inna Porubin, from the “Lucian Blaga” Theoretical Lyceum in the town of Iargara, Leova District. The distinction recognises their commitment to developing students’ skills and guiding them in the “Tekwill Junior Ambassadors” competition. Ina Terzi coached two lower secondary students who reached the final of the 2026 edition in the Emotional Intelligence in Communication category. Inna Porubin supports students in developing their web design and development skills, including by entering a team in the 2025 edition of the competition.

“For me, this certificate means much more than a title. It represents years of work, dedication, the courage to try new things and the joy of seeing students grow, discover and succeed. It is confirmation that it is worth investing in education, breaking with convention and seeing every challenge as an opportunity for growth. I believe an innovative teacher is not someone who knows everything, but someone who never stops learning, exploring and inspiring. It gives me the confidence and motivation to keep exploring and to make learning an engaging, interactive experience for students,” said Lilia Zanet, “Enichioi” Public Gymnasium, village of Enichioi, Cantemir District.

Recognising these achievements also draws attention to the role of schools in community development by giving students access to new fields of study and opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.

In the Excellence in School Digitalisation category, the award went to Svetlana Gudi, from the “Alexandr Pușkin” Public Gymnasium in the commune of Burlăceni, Cahul District. She integrates graphic design and emotional intelligence into her teaching, using the knowledge she has gained to diversify lessons and develop students’ skills. In 2026, she guided a lower secondary student to the final of the “Tekwill Junior Ambassadors” competition in the Emotional Intelligence in Communication category.

The INOTEK Ambassador award went to Natalia Popușoi in recognition of her four years of involvement in the Inotek Centre’s educational activities. During this time, she has helped deliver courses, robotics activities and camps for children, supporting participants in learning through practical exercises, experimenting and working as a team. Natalia Popușoi continues to work alongside the Inotek Centre team, helping to expand learning opportunities for children.

“For me, the title of Innovative Teacher is an affirmation of everything I have tried to build over the past few years. It recognises the effort to look beyond grades and courses towards something deeper. A teacher’s true value lies not in what they can say, but in what they can lead a child to believe they are capable of. And that is what I want to keep doing: not telling them how to think, but showing them how to start thinking,” noted Natalia Popușoi, Robotics Mentor at the Inotek Centre.

The Innovative Teacher Gala 2026 is organised by the Inotek Centre, with the support of Sweden, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, Tekwill in Every School and ATIC.