KYIV, Ukraine (Oct. 5, 2026) — SoftServe, a global AI and technology services company, today announced its support for the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2026 awards, with a prize of UAH 500 000 to the winner of the special Mathematics Teacher category. The award goes to Yulia Zubareva, a teacher from Zaporizhzhia who turns abstract mathematics into a practical tool for understanding the modern world.
SoftServe has been a sponsor of the Math Teacher award category for the second year in a row, investing in quality math education and future tech talent.
Why did I choose to become a math teacher, teaching a subject that can seem so dry and abstract? I was in tenth grade when I transferred to a new school. No one there really noticed me or saw what I was capable of, what I wanted, or how much I loved math. Then my mother, who is also a teacher, found someone who changed everything for me. She saw me sitting quietly in the back of the classroom and helped me discover that mathematics was so much more than formulas and numbers. It was about life, the future, and new opportunities. She taught me to go up to the board and always reminded me to "stand tall". She taught me it was okay to say, "I don’t know, but I want to find out." Today, that teacher is living under Russian occupation, and I cannot even call her. I want to dedicate this victory to her. And when Ukraine wins, I won’t just call her — I will go and see her in person and thank her for everything.
Yulia Zubareva is passionate about renewable energy. During power outages in Ukraine, the topic became not only relevant to her students but also a source of hope: they used mathematical calculations to analyze the efficiency of generators and solar panels and even visited a solar power plant to see the technology in practice.
Her "Mathematics in Military Affairs" project has also introduced teenagers to logistics, mapping, and military operation planning. Starting in seventh grade, Yulia uses real-world examples to show students how STEM disciplines contribute to careers in IT, economics, engineering, medicine, and other fields represented by their parents’ professions.
The best teacher is someone who gives a child much more than knowledge. They give them a sense of stability. They help them understand why learning matters, where knowledge can be applied, and who they can become. I am particularly drawn to an approach to learning and teaching where math, technology, and STEM are not just formulas in a textbook, but a way to understand how the world works. To learn how to think, ask questions, and find solutions. And perhaps even become so passionate about something that one day becomes your profession. But there is one more thing that cannot go unmentioned today. For several years now, Ukrainian teachers have continued to do their jobs during air-raid alerts, in the shelters, and amid the sounds of explosions. And in these circumstances, they give children much more than an education. They provide stability and a sense of safety. They help children keep learning, make plans, stay curious about life, and think about the future. In our winner’s application, there was a sentence I believe describes her very well: "Every child deserves a teacher who will help them see their path." And today, it is a great honor for me to present this award to a teacher who embodies exactly that.Co-Founder and Board Member, SoftServe
Global Teacher Prize Ukraine is an annual national award recognizing teachers who drive positive change in education. This year marks the prize’s 10th anniversary season. The award recognizes teachers’ contributions not only to their students, but also to society as a whole. On Oct. 3, the award ceremony was held to honor winners across multiple categories as well as the national winner.
