World's Top 30 Education Professionals for 2024

The education industry continues to witness the influence of dedicated professionals whose expertise and contributions shape learning paradigms globally. This article presents the world's top 30 education professionals for the year 2024, acknowledging their significant impact across various educational domains. From innovative pedagogical approaches to groundbreaking research, these individuals exemplify excellence in their respective fields. Through their diverse roles as educators, administrators, researchers, and advocates, they contribute to the advancement and transformation of education on a global scale. The article aims to recognize their achievements, shedding light on their profound influence within the educational community.

• Dina Buchbinder Auron

Dina Buchbinder Auron is a social entrepreneur and education leader known for her work in founding Education for Sharing (E4S), an innovative action-oriented international education model that aims to form better global citizens from childhood through the power of play. Since its establishment in 2007, E4S has impacted over 1.3 million children, teachers, and families in Mexico, the United States, Guatemala, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Panama, and New Zealand. Dina has been recognized as an Ashoka Fellow, a Vital Voices Lead Fellow, a WEF Global Shaper, and an Edmund Hillary Fellow. She holds an MPA from Harvard and is a Hubert Humphrey Fellow in Urban Planning at MIT. Her work has been featured in various media outlets and platforms, including Forbes and Coursera.

• Steve Spangler

Steve Spangler is an American television personality, author, and STEM teacher. Steve is known for his innovative approach to teaching science and his ability to inspire creativity and innovation in business and education. He has made over 1,600 television appearances and has multiple Emmy awards to his credit. Parents and educators use Steve's books and online experiments to increase student engagement and learning. He is also a regular guest on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she dubbed him America's Science Guy. Steve's catalog of videos featured on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok has more than 1 billion views, making him one of the most influential people in the field of education. He has been recognized as one of the world's top 30 education professionals for 2024 by Global Gurus.

• Don Shalvey

Don Shalvey is a public school educator who co-founded Aspire Public Schools, a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing and managing high-quality public charter schools in disadvantaged areas. Shalvey's contributions to public education have earned him recognition for his entrepreneurial spirit and effectiveness. He has been actively engaged with prominent educational initiatives and organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and San Joaquin A+. Shalvey's leadership has had a profound influence on the education sector in California, where he has played a key role in enhancing and expanding charter schools to offer improved educational prospects for students in underserved regions.

• Wendy Kopp

Wendy Kopp is a prominent figure in the global education sector and a leading social entrepreneur. She is the CEO and co-founder of Teach for All, a worldwide network of independent organizations committed to expanding educational opportunities. Kopp gained renown for founding Teach for America in 1989, aiming to recruit promising future leaders to address educational inequity. Her contributions have significantly impacted education, resulting in numerous awards and honorary doctorates. Kopp attended Highland Park High School and pursued a major in public policy at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Her influential work drives positive change globally, reflecting her vision and leadership in education and social entrepreneurship.

• Anant Agarwal

Anant Agarwal is a prominent figure in the fields of computer architecture and education. He is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Anant is known for his significant contributions to online education and is the Chief Open Education Officer of edX, an online learning platform jointly founded by Harvard and MIT. Agarwal holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. His work has garnered numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri and the Yidan Prize for Education Research, reflecting his profound impact on the fields of education and computer science.

• Dr. Eric Jensen

Dr. Eric Jensen, a former teacher with a Ph.D. in human development, is renowned as a world-class staff developer who integrates cutting-edge research with practical teaching strategies. With over 25 years of experience, he has contributed significantly to advancing accelerated learning principles and incorporating neuroscience into education. Jensen's expertise lies in providing brain-based, evidence-driven training to enhance staff capacity, student learning, and leadership performance. His work has earned him recognition as a top 30 Global Guru, focusing on integrating neuroscience with effective teaching methods. Jensen is the author of over 35 books, with his newest work focusing on "Teaching with Poverty & Equity in Mind."

• Salman Khan

Salman Khan is an American educator and entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Khan Academy, a non-profit educational organization that provides free online courses and resources to learners worldwide. Khan was working as a hedge fund analyst when he started using online tools to tutor his cousins in math. He later founded Khan Academy in 2008, which has since grown to offer over 6,500 video lessons on a wide range of subjects, including math, science, and the humanities. Khan Academy has disrupted the traditional education industry by offering free, accessible, and high-quality education to millions of students across the globe. Salman Khan's work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the American Academy of Achievement's Gold Medal, the 19th Annual Heinz Award in the Human Condition category, and the Padma Shri. Khan's pedagogical ideas extend to Khan Lab School, which he founded in 2014. Khan launched Schoolhouse.world in 2020, providing free small-group tutoring through Zoom meetings. Collaborations with universities such as the University of Chicago, MIT, and Case Western Reserve University have led to the development of Schoolhouse certifications, which test students' mastery of subjects and certify their knowledge. Khan's passion for education and his dedication to providing accessible learning opportunities have led to his recognition as a transformative figure in the field, earning him a spot on Time Magazine's list of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

• Dr. William Gaudelli

Dr. William Gaudelli is the 8th Dean and Professor of the College of Education at Lehigh University and Vice Provost of Innovation in Education. He has a distinguished career spanning over 30 years, during which he has served as a classroom teacher, researcher, professor, and seasoned administrator. He is internationally recognized for his work in global citizenship education and teacher development, with a focus on examining global interdependence in areas such as climate change and media. Gaudelli's contributions include developing the Global Competence Certificate (GCC) program and authoring influential books like "Global Citizenship Education: Everyday Transcendence." Dr. Gaudelli is a prolific author with three books to his credit, including "Global Citizenship Education: Everyday Transcendence." He is known for his interdisciplinary perspectives and has been a frequent keynote speaker and guest lecturer at international conferences and institutions.

• Eric Donald Hirsch Jr

Eric Donald Hirsch Jr. is an American educator and literary critic known for founding the Core Knowledge Foundation. He is a prominent figure in the field of education, recognized for his work on cultural literacy and the Core Knowledge Sequence. Hirsch has authored several books on educational issues, including the bestseller "Cultural Literacy." His research and theories have significantly impacted educational practices and curriculum development, particularly in literacy and knowledge acquisition. Hirsch's contributions to education have been widely influential and continue to shape discussions and policies in the field.

• Madiha Murshed

Madiha Murshed is known for her significant contributions to global education and leadership. She is the Managing Director of Scholastica, a well-regarded English-medium private school in Bangladesh, and the Executive Director of SPEED, a training center in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Madiha Murshed is also the Vice Chair at the JAAGO Foundation, providing quality education to underprivileged children in Bangladesh. Additionally, she opened the Aurora International School in Bangladesh, which teaches an international curriculum designed to build global competency skills for all its students. Madiha's educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree, Magna Cum Laude, in Development Economics from Harvard College and a degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.