Raissa is a Master's student in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum (ILAC) with a concentration in Early Childhood Education at the University of Oklahoma. She holds Bachelor's degrees in Early Childhood Education (Universidade Nove de Julho) and Portuguese Language and Literature (Uninter University), along with a Graduate Certificate in Psychopedagogy. Raissa began her career as an elementary English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in São Paulo in 2019 and later served as an English teacher and Pedagogical Coordinator in Rio de Janeiro.
Through her extensive background in education, Raissa developed a deep awareness of the critical connection between teacher well-being, classroom environments, and student outcomes. Her research focuses on early childhood well-being, investigating strategies to optimize working conditions for early childhood educators and understanding how teacher well-being directly impacts children's holistic development, well-being, and academic success.
Fun Fact: Before her career in education, Raissa spent a year as an Au Pair in Chicago. This experience solidified her passion for working with children and inspired her journey into teaching.
Encouraging Note: "Learning and teaching English has truly changed my life. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing my students achieve their dreams and communicate freely. I believe being a teacher is one of the most important occupations in the world, and this beautiful project is making a real difference in people's lives."
