Querubina de Jesus dos Santos

Brazil's pioneering female educator who established the first girls' schools in the Amazon region

Querubina dos Santos: Amazonia's Educational Visionary

Querubina de Jesus dos Santos (1835-1914) was a Brazilian educator who defied 19th century gender norms to establish the first girls' schools in the Amazon basin. Born into poverty in Belém, she became a teacher despite societal restrictions and founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne (1866), an order dedicated to female education.

Her schools in Pará state emphasized literacy and practical skills for indigenous and poor girls, countering colonial neglect. She integrated local cultures into curricula, preserving indigenous knowledge while promoting modern education. Her legacy is preserved in the National Archives of Brazil.

dos Santos' innovative approach combined religious instruction with vocational training, preparing women for roles beyond traditional domestic spheres. She faced opposition from elites who believed education would disrupt social order, yet persisted through community fundraising and grassroots organizing.