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Brazilian Teacher Gains Global Recognition for Educational Innovation and Educational Robotics Projects in Public Education.
The Brazilian teacher Débora Garofalo was elected the most influential teacher in the world by the Varkey Foundation this Monday (2/2), during an international ceremony held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The recognition, granted by an international committee, highlights her work in public education, especially through the use of educational robotics and educational innovation in schools in the periphery of São Paulo, with an impact that goes beyond the classroom.
The award is part of a unique category called Global Teacher Influencer, created to value educators whose influence generates social transformation, civic education, and concrete changes in vulnerable communities.
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The choice comes at a time when the global debate about the role of education is gaining momentum in light of contemporary technological and social challenges.
International Recognition Surprises Brazilian Teacher
Commenting on the event, Débora Garofalo stated that she had no prior knowledge of the award. According to her, the invitation to travel to Dubai came unexpectedly.
“I was surprised with an invitation on Saturday at 2 a.m. from the Varkey Foundation, asking me to go to Dubai,” she reported to Correio.
Initially, the information provided was scarce. “They didn’t give details.
They just said I needed to be there for a recognition,” she said.
Thus, the teacher boarded without imagining she would be the main honoree of the night, which made the moment even more memorable.
During the gala dinner, the organizers began to present her professional journey, highlighting the impact of her work on public education in Brazil.
“They asked me to stand up to receive this award, an initiative of the Varkey Foundation, in a new category called Global Teacher Influencer, for the recognition of my work and my influence in the world,” she shared.
New Category Values Educational Innovation
The creation of the Global Teacher Influencer category aims to recognize teachers who operate beyond the traditional curriculum, influencing educational policies, communities, and innovative pedagogical practices.
Unlike other awards, the Brazilian teacher did not apply to compete.
“This makes everything even more special because it is a spontaneous recognition,” Débora said.
According to her, the award symbolizes not just an individual achievement but the recognition of a whole collective journey built within public education.
“For me, it’s a great joy because it celebrates a whole journey in favor of education.
More than that, it’s about giving a voice to students and teachers and showing that it’s possible to take our education to the highest level,” she remarked.
Journey Marked by Educational Robotics
The story of Débora Garofalo is already well-known in the educational field. She is part of a group of Brazilian educators with international recognition and has accumulated over 20 awards in the area.
Among them is the Global Teacher Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel of Education.”
Her relationship with the Varkey Foundation began years before her most recent award. In 2019, she became the first Latin American woman to reach the finals of the Global Teacher Prize, ranking among the ten best teachers in the world.
The spotlight came from the Robotics with Scrap project developed in the public network of São Paulo.
The project uses discarded materials to teach technology and computational thinking, a concept that involves the ability to solve problems logically and creatively.
In this way, educational robotics becomes accessible even in low-resource contexts, broadening the reach of educational innovation.
Education in Public Schools Inspires Professional Work
All of Débora Garofalo’s academic training took place in public schools.
In an interview in September 2025, she revealed that she attended basic education in the far south of the São Paulo capital, near the Interlagos racetrack.
This experience was decisive for her professional choice.
“That school was very significant for me.
Even though it was in an isolated location, the teachers paid special attention to us and to the school,” she recalled.
In 2008, the teacher decided to dedicate herself exclusively to education. “It was a way to give back a bit of everything I had,” she explained.
Thus, the choice to teach in schools in the periphery was also conscious.
“I understood that these boys and girls had a voice and that I needed to show that education transforms lives,” she asserted.
Projects That Transform Communities
With the advancement of pedagogical work, students began to develop prototypes of boats, cars, and airplanes, as well as practical solutions to real problems in the community.
Among the projects are a motion sensor for a wheelchair for a student with motor disabilities, a timer for energy savings, and even a sustainable power grid in areas affected by constant power outages.
In this way, the trajectory of the Brazilian teacher reaffirms the potential of public education, educational robotics, and educational innovation as tools for social transformation, now recognized at the highest international level.
See more at: Brazilian Teacher Is Elected the Most Influential in the World
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