Overview:
María Barragán Ortiz is an international educator and researcher dedicated to creating safe, inclusive learning environments that support both student success and educator well-being.
María Barragán Ortiz is an internationally recognized multilingual educator, researcher, Top 50 Educator, and consultant whose work centers on creating safe, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments. From her early experiences growing up in a rural town in southern Spain to teaching and researching across Spain, Poland, England, and the United States, María has seen firsthand how education can transform lives, and how much more it can achieve when educators themselves are supported and valued.
Journey in Education
“Growing up, I was inspired by my aunt, a wonderful elementary teacher. Seeing her leverage education as a tool for empowerment, not only for her students but for herself, made me see the world as full of possibilities, and I wanted to be like her,” María shares. That inspiration, combined with teaching and learning in multiple countries, solidified her belief that education is the most powerful catalyst for personal and community growth.
For María, the defining moments are ongoing: “Every time that educators share their students’ growth with me, or I see one of my students achieve something they set their mind to, whether it’s mastering a small task in the classroom, earning acceptance into college with a full scholarship, or hearing about their accomplishments ten years later, I reaffirm my belief that teaching is the most humbling and meaningful calling of all.”
Innovative Approaches in Education
Central to María’s approach is intentional empathy and psychological safety. “Early in my career, I realized that what are often labeled as ‘classroom management issues’ are reflections of structural challenges, unmet needs, and a lack of connection or support,” she explains. By leading with heart and intentionally fostering safe, inclusive environments where students feel valued, celebrated, and encouraged to take intellectual risks, María has transformed not only classrooms but the broader communities she serves.
She acknowledges the challenges of advocacy: “Using my voice sometimes meant standing alone or challenging long-established practices. But as long as I stayed grounded in the belief that equity, dignity, and access to opportunity are non-negotiable, I always found a way to be part of broader conversations, community-rooted change, and visible impact.”
Advice for Educators
To teachers navigating burnout or stagnation, María emphasizes self-care and boundaries: “Teaching is deeply meaningful work, but it should never require the sacrifice of your well-being. When the noise feels too loud or the weight too heavy, pause, breathe, and reassess. You are allowed to (and should) say ‘no’ more often than you think.” She recently expanded on educator well-being and relational safety in “Safe Schools Require Safe Relationships.”
Advocacy, she notes, is most effective when educators unite: “Root your work in shared values, listen deeply, document impact, and use data, expertise, and lived experience. Change is possible through collective, consistent advocacy, even in systems that may feel resistant.”
Transforming Education
If she were at the helm of the Department of Education, María would implement a framework prioritizing psychological safety for both staff and students. “Feeling safe in schools goes far beyond physical security; it includes emotional, relational, and cultural safety, all of which directly influence learning, well-being, retention, and achievement,” she says. She emphasizes that educator well-being is foundational, not secondary, to student success, a principle that informs both her research and her consulting practice.
Impact Beyond the Classroom
Through WellnED, the organization she founded, María provides professional development and initiatives that translate research at the intersection of education, linguistics, and psychology into actionable strategies. Her methodology draws on both her research and academic work across international institutions, including the University of Seville, the Jagiellonian University, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University. She has trained thousands of educators worldwide and has contributed to the field through academic and scientific publications. As a Global Goals Ambassador for Quality Education with the United Nations Association USA and Board Member and Director of Education for the United Nations Association Chicago, she advocates for access to quality education, equity, and well-being across local and global contexts.
Legacy
“My goal is to help build systems where educators feel protected, respected, and empowered to bring their full humanity into their work, and where students feel safe to take intellectual and personal risks,” María explains. She envisions a cultural shift in education: one that values sustainability over burnout, collaboration over isolation, and empathy as a professional strength. Her legacy is a world where schools are spaces of safety, belonging, and possibility for everyone who walks through their doors.
Recognition and Awards
- 2026 & 2023 – United Nations Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations Association USA
- 2024 & 2025 – Global Goals Ambassador for Quality Education, United Nations Association USA
- 2023 – Illinois TESOL-Bilingual Education Graduate Award, ITBE
- 2020 – Women’s Leaders of Hanover Park Award for Leadership in Social-Emotional Learning
- 2017 – University of Seville Enterprising Award for an innovative project on teaching English to visually impaired learners
- 2015 – University of Oxford OxTalent Award for the WebLearn Project for Language Learners
With decades of experience, cross-cultural expertise, and a commitment to equity and well-being, María Barragán Ortiz is a trailblazer whose work is reshaping how educators, students, and communities experience the transformative power of education.
