There have been numerous women in education that have opened the doors for so many others. Here are just 4 female educators that made learning accessible to everyone.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who advocates for girls’ education and equality. Born in 1997 in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, Yousafzai spoke out against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education as a teenager, becoming attacked by the Taliban, and turning into an international symbol of the fight for girls’ education.
Read more about Malala Yousafzai’s story here: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2014/yousafzai/biographical/
Emma Willard
Emma Willard was a pioneer in women’s education, dedicating her life as an activist for learning. Willard founded Troy Female Seminary, the first school for young women in the United States and was proclaimed the best-know women in America.
Read more about Emma Willard here: https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/emma-hart-willard/
Gabriela Mistral
As a Chilean author and educator, Gabriela Mistral became the first Latin American author to receive the Nobel Prize in literature, and the National Literature Prize in Chile. Mistral became a bold activist for the rights of women, children, the poor, and many other disadvantaged groups in her community.
Read more about Gabriela Mistral’s story here: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/gabriela-mistral#:~:text=As%20a%20Chilean%20author%20and,born%20on%20April%207%2C%201889.
Deborah Meier
Deborah Meier is an American educator often considered the founder of the modern small schools’ movement. Meier became the founding principal of four well-known public schools, receiving a MacArthur “genius” Award for her work in public education.
Read more about Deborah Meier here: https://naeducation.org/member/deborah-meier/
Who is your favorite female educator from history? Let us know in the comments!
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