John Karanja
Head of School at Nairobi Academy
Summary of my speech:
From a charcoal line in the dirt to the International Baccalaureate, four generations, one question: What name are our children learning to write? Join me as I trace that journey at AEF.
Bio:
John Karanja is a teacher at heart. He has served as Deputy Headteacher within the Braeburn Group and as the founding Director of Teaching and Learning at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy, where he launched the school in a hotel and helped shape a culture of inquiry, equity and high expectations. He is currently the Head of School at Nairobi Academy. Beyond school leadership, John played a pivotal role in the adoption and construction of secondary schools through the expansion of existing primary schools, enabling 100% transition to secondary education, a conviction rooted in his belief that access is not an aspiration but a responsibility. He champions learner agency, safeguarding, ethical leadership and strong community partnerships. His Community Voice is clear: when schools choose courage, inclusion and principle, education becomes a promise kept, not a privilege rationed.
