Nelsy Saray Valenzuela Flores

Nelsy Saray Valenzuela Flores is an innovative educator, cultural promoter, and indigenous researcher from Sinaloa, Mexico, whose work has transformed education for the Yoreme people. As a teacher of social studies and civic education across primary and secondary levels, she has developed groundbreaking pedagogical projects that integrate active methodologies, technology, oral tradition, and art to strengthen cultural identity, academic performance, and community engagement. 

Her pioneering initiative, the Ínapo Yoreme Indigenous Radio, is the first indigenous digital community radio in northern Sinaloa. Through this platform, children, youth, and adults produce educational and cultural content in Yoremnokki, the Yoreme language, preserving ancestral knowledge while developing communication and critical thinking skills. This project has been recognized nationally, documented in the USICAMM Digital Archive, and highlighted for its innovative approach to intercultural education. 

Valenzuela Flores has led numerous award-winning projects, including “Community Indigenous Radio as a Learning Tool to Strengthen the Indigenous and Collective Identity of Our Yoreme Children”, recognized with the 2023 Educational Practice Recognition by SEP-USICAMM. She has also received the 2022 Sinaloa Women’s Stories Award (third place) and recognition from the Secretary of Women of Sinaloa for her work in promoting indigenous language, culture, and identity. Her research has earned grants such as PECDA 2022 FONCA and PACMyC 2021, documenting Yoreme oral histories, toponymies, and biocultural resources. 

Beyond her classroom and community work, Valenzuela Flores collaborates with universities, government institutions, and cultural organizations to create spaces for intercultural dialogue, learning, and youth empowerment. She has delivered lectures, led workshops, and participated in national and international forums on indigenous education, climate awareness, and cultural revitalization. Her projects, such as “The Renaissance of My Community” and environmental stewardship initiatives, have equipped students with skills for the 21st century while fostering civic responsibility and sustainability. 

Valenzuela Flores is also building Yolemania, an indigenous cultural center dedicated to the Yoreme language, crafts, oral storytelling, and intergenerational knowledge exchange. Her holistic approach bridges school, culture, and community, turning education into a tool for social transformation and empowerment. 

Her career exemplifies the power of teaching to preserve culture, strengthen identity, and foster global citizenship. Through her innovative, community-centered approach, Valenzuela Flores has become a role model for educators and indigenous communities worldwide. If awarded the Global Teacher Prize 2026, she plans to expand her initiatives, ensuring Yoreme children and their communities continue to thrive academically, culturally, and socially.