Clever pickle: the YouTubing Sydney teacher in the running for $1.3m global prize

Teaching was once her career backup plan, but now the innovative and inclusive Rebecca West is shortlisted for a major award

Everyone remembers their favourite teacher. Rebecca West still can't bring herself to call hers by his first name, even though, 20 years on, she's friends with Paul on Facebook. But she'll never forget the example that her geography and legal studies teacher Mr Fields set her as a student, before teaching was even on her radar as a career.

He let kids have honest opinions," West says. We felt comfortable to air a conflicting argument in the classroom because he would let us have those conversations. It was very inspirational to have someone treat us like young adults."