At Cognita, we believe that when we invest in our teachers and leaders, giving them the support, development and freedom to grow, they in turn create the best possible outcomes for students. Raquel Sánchez Nieto’s achievement this year is a powerful example of that belief in action.

Raquel, Middle School Coordinator and Spanish Language teacher at El Limonar International School (ELIS) Murcia in Spain, has been named the International School Teacher of the Year Global Winner at the 2026 Pearson International School Teacher Awards, selected from more than 10,000 candidates across international schools worldwide. She first won the European regional category before going on to take the global title.

Raquel’s 28-year career at ELIS Murcia reflects an approach to teaching that we’re proud to champion across our schools: pairing academic rigour with real attention to students’ emotional wellbeing. She has continued to invest in her own development throughout her career, including further study in child and adolescent mental health, and has used that expertise to lead programmes at ELIS Murcia on healthy relationships and personal wellbeing for younger students.

Reflecting on the award, Raquel described it as the reward for a career-long commitment to teaching, years of walking into ELIS every morning with the same enthusiasm, driven by the belief that a teacher’s influence reaches far beyond the subject they teach. For Raquel, education is about more than academic results: it’s about creating the conditions for every student to grow with confidence. As she put it, “academic excellence and emotional well-being are not conflicting goals” – when students feel safe, heard and supported, they learn better and reach their full potential.

The judging panel praised Raquel’s professionalism, innovation and curiosity, highlighting her commitment to supporting students both inside and outside the classroom, and noting the lasting difference she has made to the young people she teaches. In their words, she is “a very worthy global winner of this award.”

This was also a strong year for ELIS Murcia more widely, with two further colleagues, Rachael Brett-Summers and Guy Garden, named European finalists in this year’s awards, one of the strongest showings of any school in the competition, and a reflection of the depth of teaching talent the school continues to develop.

Congratulations to Raquel Sánchez, and to everyone at ELIS Murcia, on an achievement that reflects what’s possible when great teachers are given the space and support to thrive.