Maria Anna Monteiro

A Brazilian educator who revolutionized rural education through mobile schools and literacy campaigns in the Amazon region.

Maria Anna Monteiro (1925–2001) was a visionary Brazilian educator who pioneered mobile schools in the Amazon rainforest, providing education to marginalized Indigenous and riverine communities. In 1953, she founded the Escola de Rodas (Wheel School), a fleet of boats equipped with classrooms that navigated the Amazon River, teaching literacy, healthcare, and sustainable agriculture to remote villages. Her approach reduced illiteracy rates by over 50% in the region within a decade.

Monteiro’s work extended beyond education. She collaborated with Indigenous leaders to document traditional knowledge, publishing "Voices of the Forest", a collection of oral histories and ecological practices. Her advocacy for Indigenous rights led to the creation of the UNESCO Monteiro Project, which至今 supports cultural preservation in the Amazon.

Despite her impact, Monteiro remained humble, often saying, "Education is not a gift—it’s a bridge between worlds." Her legacy is honored annually at the Maria Anna Monteiro Festival in Manaus, Brazil. A documentary, "The River Teacher" (2020), explores her life’s work.