The competition consisted of 11 categories, including science, education, and municipal management. The nomination "Teacher and Mentor" was particularly popular, receiving 53 applications. Among the nine best educators was Nazgul Marazyakova, the principal of Secondary School No. 8 in the city of Kara-Balta.
This was Marazyakova's first experience participating, and she noted that the support of colleagues and partners involved in educational initiatives played a crucial role in her decision. "The competition is inspiring, but the hardest part was looking at my own work from the outside," she said.
As a result of the competition, she was awarded a diploma, and her school's library received 100 new books.
Nazgul Marazyakova has 30 years of experience in education. She has progressed from teacher to principal, previously leading Alekseevskaya Secondary School and School No. 11 in Kara-Balta, and is now managing School No. 8.
Under her leadership, educational institutions have become prize winners in prestigious competitions, and teachers have taken top places in the "Teacher of the Year" contest. Students also show good results: in 2025, graduates achieved high scores in the National Testing (ORT), with one receiving a "Gold Certificate" and another achieving the highest score.
A mentoring system has been developed at the school, where experienced educators assist young teachers, and high school students support younger pupils. "A modern mentor is not just a teacher. It is important to teach students to think, seek answers, and strive for development," the principal believes.
Nazgul Marazyakova is convinced that a school should nurture personality. Educators focus on instilling responsibility, hard work, and patriotism in children. Despite the workload, she successfully balances the roles of leader and mentor, which is possible due to a balance between demand and support. "All the achievements of the school are the work of the entire team, and mistakes are my responsibility," she summarizes.
