Convinced that strengthening leadership teams is key to transforming education, 40 teachers and educational leaders from across Uruguay began the first cohort of the Certificate in Educational Management with an emphasis on Transformative Leadership in May 2025.
The training program—sponsored by the Institute of Education at the Universidad ORT Uruguay and the ReachingU Foundation—aims to train specialists with the necessary skills to manage projects and lead processes of change and improvement in various areas of educational practice.
The drive to keep learning
There are many reasons to enroll in the Certificate in Educational Management with an Emphasis on Transformative Leadership, but they all share one thing in common: the belief that continuing education is essential to leading the changes that the Uruguayan education system needs.
When she read the title of the graduate program, Andrea Romano—principal of School No. 119 in Montevideo—was particularly struck by the words “transformational leadership.” “What does it mean to be a transformational leader? What tools will this course provide to help me become one? How can I put this into practice in my daily work without it remaining just empty talk?” she wondered. Her curiosity led her to apply for the scholarship, which she saw as a“great opportunity to learn and continue growing”as she took her first steps in leading the school.
María Teresa Pérez, principal of School No. 409 in Cerro de Montevideo, “firmly” believes that her daily work requires ongoing professional development. “I decided to pursue training in management to gain more tools to help my colleagues with their teaching practices, which will have a positive impact on student learning,” she noted, adding that she hopes the certificate will give her resume “an edge” by“opening more doors” in her career.
The importance of “educational leadership that inspires and transforms”is fundamental to Ana Elisa Micheltorena, principal of Florida School No. 3. With the goal of exploring leadership approaches that prioritize collective growth, as well as teacher and student well-being, she enrolled in the certificate program because it offered her the opportunity to “strengthen leadership skills, foster teamwork, and develop innovative strategies.”
In closing, José Echevarría—assistant principal at Liceo No. 3 in Salto—reflected on his motivation for joining the program:“To innovate and commit to change, we need to get involved and critically examine our practices. Only then can we assume that something can be changed or transformed in our educational communities.”
Hopes for a fresh start
A new training program always brings with it a range of personal and professional expectations. For Santiago Chitaro, director of the Talitakum Educational Center in Montevideo, this training opportunity came at a pivotal moment. His center works with vulnerable adolescents, so it became crucial for him to have the tools to strengthen his professional work—especially to ensure “a safe and enriching learning environment” for those with “limited access to quality educational options.”
From Treinta y Tres, Claudia Ethel Moreira, principal of Rural School No. 74, hopes not only to gain practical and theoretical knowledge to “lead effectively” and “improve educational quality from a transformative and equitable perspective.” She also aims to strengthen her leadership skills in order to promote positive change in her community and influence teaching and learning processes.
“I hope it will provide me with tools I can use at the school where I work to improve student learning, ”said Carla Castaño, principal of APRENDER No. 7 “José Pedro Varela” School in Durazno. In that vein, she emphasized her interest in helping the school community conduct assessments that will enable them to achieve better results, along with the implementation of sustainable projects.
Maria Noel Bueno, for her part, intended to discover and learn“new and innovative strategies” for the role she plays. The teacher-secretary at School No. 105 in Paysandú explained that she applied for the certificate with the expectation that, based on the theoretical and practical knowledge gained, she would be able to “facilitate learning” with a “highly positive and transformative impact.”
Lessons with a future
Beyond the knowledge they may gain, those who enrolled in the Certificate in Educational Management with an Emphasis on Transformative Leadership are confident that this training program will have a tangible impact on the way they work.
Mabel Guinco, activities coordinator and teacher of Art and Visual Communication at Liceo No. 4 in Mercedes (Soriano), hopes to expand her leadership skills to “better perform” her role. “I hope to grow professionally. I believe I will be able to develop my skills by gaining greater confidence and the ability to tackle challenges, ”she said.
For her part, Raquel Ramírez, principal of Rural School No. 64 in Paysandú, noted that the program could mark a turning point in her approach to education. “It is likely to broaden our worldview and perception of reality by enriching current and future processes,” she said, while emphasizing the importance of promoting participatory initiatives that involve students, families, and local institutions. “The new challenges of rural education require working in partnership to achieve greater autonomy and improved learning,” she added.
Finally, Ana Laura Ferreira, the secretary of School No. 26 in Paysandú, expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to advance her personal and professional development within the administrative team. She believes the certificate could be key to improving institutional management and fostering stronger ties with the educational community. “My goal is to strengthen my knowledge, personal and interpersonal relationships, and develop innovative, creative, and effective leadership skills in education,” she concluded.
A joint commitment to educational leadership
Behind this new edition of the Certificate in Educational Management with an Emphasis on Transformative Leadership lies a shared institutional commitment. The partnership between Universidad ORT Uruguay the ReachingU Foundation made it possible for 40 professionals from across Uruguay to receive a 100% full scholarshipto pursue this program.
“The call for applications attracted a large number of interested candidates, which made the selection process very challenging,” explained Andrea Tejera Techera, the program’s academic coordinator. As she explained, the selection committee had to evaluate multiple criteria, such as the applicants’ backgrounds and the local context of each school. “All of you were selected because you meet the criteria we were looking for: commitment, potential, and a desire to lead transformative processes in your communities,” she emphasized.
In addition, Cecilia Conti—Head of Project Management, Evaluation, and Development at the ReachingU Foundation—highlighted the enthusiasm generated by this new cohort of students. “They filled us with hope with their eagerness to learn,” she said. And while she acknowledged that continuing education is “a huge effort,” especially given the participants’ professional responsibilities, she assured that it is an endeavor that “is worth it.”
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