Gloria Cisneros

Gloria Argentina Cisneros is an extraordinary rural educator whose life and work demonstrate the transformative power of education. Raised in conditions that once made her own schooling unlikely, she credits her teachers’ care as the driving force that changed her life. Determined to provide that same opportunity to others, she became the sole teacher of a remote school in Las Napas, Argentina—located 90 kilometers from the nearest town and accessible only by dangerous dirt roads. There, she fulfils not only the role of teacher, but also caretaker, administrator, health responder, and community steward.

Despite the school’s isolation, lack of water supply, absence of support staff, and the community’s extreme socio-economic challenges, Gloria has created a model of innovation and equity that has transformed her students’ futures. She has introduced technology into classrooms where such tools were previously unimaginable, proving that rural schools can deliver high-quality, future-focused education. Her constructivist, student-centred approach blends research, play-based learning, artificial intelligence tools, and local knowledge to strengthen critical thinking and empower students to become protagonists of their own learning.

Her creative teaching methods—such as a “travel book” project, a classroom zoo, and annual student-authored literary works—have dramatically increased student engagement, literacy, and confidence. These innovations routinely earn her students recognition at science fairs, where their research and oral presentations are praised for their quality and depth. Through her efforts, many former pupils now excel at secondary, tertiary, and university levels, including at prestigious institutions such as UNSA, where rural graduates are celebrated for their academic excellence and social skills.

Gloria’s impact extends far beyond her classroom. She relentlessly advocates for students’ wellbeing, securing clothing, food, medicines, and learning materials through partnerships with NGOs and international donors. She has helped build cross-provincial networks of support that provide long-term mentorship to rural children. She has also led institutional improvement projects and successfully secured funding for neighbouring schools—most notably supporting the development of a school hostel in Paraje to ensure students and teachers have dignified living and sanitary conditions.

As a global peace ambassador, Gloria connects her students with the world, promoting intercultural dialogue, global citizenship, and environmental stewardship. Her students participate in biodiversity protection projects, medicinal plant research, environmental fairs, and conservation initiatives with national organisations. These experiences teach them responsibility not only to their community, but to the planet.

A recognised model of best teaching practice across the Chaco region, Gloria mentors fellow educators, leads interinstitutional curriculum initiatives, and shares strategies that help improve teaching quality statewide. Her commitment to lifelong learning fuels her continuous professional development and inspires her colleagues and students alike.

If awarded the Global Teacher Prize, Gloria plans to build a student residence in Taco Pozo to ensure rural youth can complete secondary and tertiary education with stable housing, food, emotional support, and pedagogical guidance. She also aims to help reopen a local first-aid centre—addressing urgent health vulnerabilities in the region.

For Gloria Argentina Cisneros, education is not only a profession—it is a mission to break cycles of poverty, uplift her community, and ensure that every child, no matter how remote, has access to opportunity, dignity, and hope.