Varkey Foundation Joins Jury of Fundación Ibercaja’s First “Docentes Referentes” Awards Celebrating Teaching Excellence Across Spain

The new awards programme recognises outstanding teachers driving innovation and transformation in classrooms across Spain, with Agustín Porres joining a distinguished jury of education leaders.

The Varkey Foundation has joined the jury of the first edition of “Docentes Referentes” (“Landmark Teachers”), a new national initiative launched by Fundación Ibercaja to recognise and celebrate exceptional teaching across Spain.

Created as part of Fundación Ibercaja’s 150th anniversary celebrations, the awards highlight the vital role of teachers in transforming education and supporting students’ learning and wellbeing. The initiative carries the Honorary Presidency of Her Royal Highness Infanta Doña Sofía, marking the first institutional initiative she has undertaken in this role.

Agustín Porres, Regional Director of the Varkey Foundation for Latin America, was invited to join the distinguished jury alongside leading voices in education, including Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education; Chema Vera, President of UNICEF Spain; and university leaders Jaime Olmedo and Rosa Bolea, among other experts.

The awards received an outstanding response, with 478 projects submitted by teachers from all 17 autonomous communities of Spain. Following an evaluation process by a committee of experts and the jury, 25 finalists were selected, with five teachers ultimately recognised as winners. Each received a €12,000 grant to support the continued development of their educational projects.

Recognising teachers as drivers of transformation

The closing ceremony took place in Zaragoza and was presided over by Her Royal Highness Infanta Doña Sofía, accompanied by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain and Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias. The event represented a significant public recognition of the contribution teachers make to society and the role of education as a driver of positive change.

The five winning teachers were recognised across categories reflecting key areas of educational transformation:

• Educational Leadership: Belén María Mesas Sánchez (Granada)

• Sustainability in Education: Clement Córdoba Vila (Valencia)

• Inclusive Education: Mercedes Carpintero Gómez (Valladolid)

• Educational Research and Knowledge Transfer: Cristian Ruiz Reinales (Zaragoza)

• Comprehensive Health Education: Diego Olivar Aldudo (Valladolid)
  

Before the awards ceremony, the 25 finalists gathered in Zaragoza for a two-day workshop designed to build connections, share experiences, and strengthen a national community of teachers committed to innovation and improvement.

Through collaborative sessions, practical workshops, and networking opportunities, participants explored the programme’s five strategic areas: educational leadership, sustainability, inclusion, educational research, and holistic health education. The workshop also laid the foundations for future collaboration through the Docentes Referentes Community, which will continue supporting connections between teachers beyond the awards.

Celebrating the profession of teaching

During the ceremony, Infanta Doña Sofía highlighted the importance of recognising educators and the responsibility they carry in shaping future generations.

“Many of us believe that yours is one of the best professions in the world, one that should be valued much more, that carries great responsibility, and that sows seeds of hope today.”

For the Varkey Foundation, participation in the jury reflects its ongoing commitment to celebrating teachers, amplifying their voices, and supporting education leaders who are driving meaningful change in their communities.

The first edition of Docentes Referentes marks an important step in building a stronger national movement that recognises teaching excellence and creates opportunities for educators to learn from one another.

As education systems around the world face shared challenges, initiatives that celebrate and connect outstanding teachers play a vital role in ensuring that innovation, collaboration, and effective practice continue to reach more classrooms and more students.

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