Fierro Named 2016 Brock International Prize in Education Laureate

Friday, October 23, 2015

Dr. Cecilia Fierro, a national research professor at Universidad Iberoamericana Leon, has been named the 2016 Brock International Prize in Education Laureate for her significant contributions to the field of education, including work alongside teachers and school leaders to develop practices that address needs of marginalized children, and build democratic schools in rural and impoverished neighborhoods across Mexico. 

The Brock International Prize in Education, named for Oklahoma natives John and Donnie Brock, is awarded annually and recognizes individuals who have made a specific innovation or contribution resulting in a significant impact on the practice or understanding of the field of education.  The Prize is about big ideas that make meaningful change in the way people think and act.

“We look all over the world for the best ideas in education,” said Brock Prize founder, John A. Brock “and we are delighted that Cecilia Fierro is our first laureate from Mexico.  Her work has helped countless teachers and students, and we are honored that she is the 2016 Brock Prize Laureate.” 

Fierro’s books have reached over 130,000 teachers in every corner of Mexico. She has been a relentless advocate for marginalized children and the teachers and school directors who work on their behalf.  She founded the Latin American Network of Schools for Democracy to identify schools that were creating moral and democratic environments and designed a guide to diagnose school climate that is in use across the country.

“Cecilia Fierro has not only worked alongside teachers and children in rural areas of Mexico, but she has written eloquently about reflective practice and inspired a generation of teachers throughout Mexico,” said Dr. Charles Slater, who nominated Fierro for the prize.  Slater is a professor of Educational Leadership at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) and was on the jury of nine educators and education advocates who selected Fierro for the honor.

Fierro will be formally honored at the annual Brock Prize Symposium in March of 2016, at which she will be the featured speaker.  In addition to the cash award of $40,000, Fierro will receive a certificate denoting the honor and a bust of legendary Native American educator Sequoyah. The Prize is endowed through the Brock Family Community Foundation.

For more information about the Brock International Prize in Education or the 2016 Brock Prize Symposium, go to http://brockinternationalprize.org/, or contact Brock Prize Executive Director, Dr. Ed Harris, at ed.harris@okstate.edu.