Event Recap: Bridging Research and Practice: Education Reform in São Paulo and Beyond

On May 19, 2026, leaders from philanthropy, academia, and education gathered at the Harvard Club of New York City for Bridging Research and Practice: Education Reform in São Paulo and Beyond, a breakfast conversation hosted Parceiros da Educação and Harvard’s Education Lab for Latin America (ELLA) in partnership with Synergos.

The event featured Dr. Emiliana Vegas, Director of ELLA at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Jair Ribeiro, Founder and CEO of Parceiros da Educação and members of the Synergos community, represented by Peggy Dulany, Founder and President of Synergos, and Kevin Wenzel, Philanthropy Partner for the U.S. and Canada at the Global Philanthropists Circle, in a conversation about the future of education reform in São Paulo and the global challenges facing public education systems in the post-pandemic context.

Drawing from her international research and policy experience, Dr. Vegas addressed two of the most pressing issues in education today: learning recovery after COVID-19 and the implementation of effective reforms at scale. She shared evidence and lessons learned from education systems around the world, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between academic institutions and implementation organizations to translate research into measurable impact for students.

Representing the São Paulo perspective, Jair Ribeiro reflected on the realities and opportunities within one of the largest and most complex public education systems in the Global South. He highlighted how Parceiros da Educação has worked alongside schools, municipalities, and the State Department of Education for more than two decades to design, test, and scale evidence-based initiatives focused on improving learning outcomes and advancing educational equity.

The discussion also explored the ongoing collaboration between Harvard’s ELLA and Parceiros da Educação, demonstrating how research and practice can come together to address systemic challenges and strengthen public education policy.

The gathering brought together leaders committed to advancing quality and equity in education and reinforced the importance of cross-sector partnerships in shaping sustainable and impactful education reform.