Cultivating Safety, Identity, and Well-Being: The Work of María Barragán Ortiz

María Barragán Ortiz is an internationally recognized multilingual educator, researcher, Top 50 Educator, and consultant focused 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 throughout Spain, Poland, England and the United States, María has seen firsthand how education can transform lives, and how much more it can achieve when teachers themselves are supported and valued.

Educational Journey

“Growing up, I was inspired by my aunt, an amazing primary school teacher.” Seeing his beneficial education as a tool to empower, not only his students but himself, made me see the world as full of possibilities, and I wanted to be like him,” María shares. That inspiration, combined with teaching and learning in many countries, strengthened her belief that education is a powerful motivator for personal and social growth.

For María, the defining moments continue: “Every time teachers share with me the growth of their students, or I see one of my students achieve something they set out to do, whether it’s doing a little work in class, getting accepted to college with a full scholarship, or hearing about their accomplishments ten years later, I confirm my belief that teaching is the most humble and meaningful calling of all.”

New Approaches in Education

Central to María’s approach is intentional empathy and psychological safety. “Early in my career, I realized that what are often referred to as ‘classroom management issues’ are a reflection of structural challenges, unmet needs, and a lack of communication or support,” she explains. By leading with passion 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 norms. But as long as I stayed focused on the belief that equality, dignity, and access to opportunity were non-negotiable, I always found a way to be part of broader conversations, community-centered changes, and tangible impact.”

Advice for Teachers

For teachers who face burnout or stagnation, María emphasizes self-care and boundaries: “Teaching is a deeply meaningful job, but it should never require the sacrifice of your well-being. You have just increased the well-being of teachers and the safety of relationships between “Safe Schools Require Safe Relationships.”

He advocates, he notes, that it is most effective when educators come together: “Cut your work to shared values, listen deeply, document impact, and use data, expertise, and lived experience. Change can happen through collective, consistent resistance, even in programs that may feel resistant.”

Transforming Education

If she were leading the Department of Education, María would implement a framework that prioritizes the mental safety of staff and students. “Feeling safe in schools goes beyond physical safety; it includes emotional, relational, and cultural safety, all of which have a direct impact on learning, health, retention, and success,” he said. He emphasizes that teacher well-being is fundamental, not secondary, to student success, a principle that informs both his research and his consulting approach.

Impact Beyond the Classroom

Through WellnED, the organization she founded, María provides professional development and programs that translate research at the intersection of education, linguistics, and psychology into practical strategies. His approach draws on both his research and academic work at international institutions, including the University of Seville, the Jagiellonian University, the University of Oxford, and Harvard University. He has trained thousands of teachers worldwide and has contributed to the field through academic and scientific publications. As Ambassador for Global Goals for High Quality Education with the United Nations USA and Board Member and Director of Education for the United Nations Chicago, he advocates for access to quality education, equity, and well-being in all local and global contexts.

Legacy

“My goal is to help create programs where teachers feel protected, respected, and empowered to bring their full humanity to their work, and where students feel safe to take mental and personal risks,” explains María. He envisions a cultural shift in education: one that values ​​sustainability over burnout, collaboration over isolation, and empathy as professional strength. His legacy is a world where schools are places of safety, belonging to people, and possibilities for everyone who walks through their doors.

Honors and Awards

• 2026 & 2023 – United Nations Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations in the USA

• 2024 & 2025 – Global Goals Ambassador for Quality Education, United Nations in USA
• 2023 – Illinois TESOL-Bilingual Education Graduate Award, ITBE
• 2020 – Hanover Park Women Leaders Award for Leadership in Social-Emotional Learning
• 2017 – University of Seville Enterprising Award for a new project to teach English to visually impaired students
• 2015 – Oxford University OxTalent Award for WebLearn Project for Language Students

With decades of experience, diverse expertise, and a commitment to equity and well-being, María Barragán Ortiz is a trailblazer whose work is reshaping the way teachers, students, and communities are empowered to transform education.