Mariana Stan, a 45‑year‑old Romanian language teacher, has been named Director of the Year 2025 after turning around the public school in the rural commune of Dor Mărunt, Călărași County. Stan’s leadership combined local initiative with EU and national funds-through the PNRR-to upgrade infrastructure, equip classrooms with IT, recruit and motivate teachers, and reduce school abandonment. She led fundraising, secured donations, and built a supportive community of parents, teachers and students, creating a model of bottom‑up change that has earned national recognition. The award highlights the impact of grassroots educational reform in Romania’s poorer regions.
Original article can be found here.