Ronald Lloré, a psychologist from the Department of Student Counseling (DECE) at Unidad Educativa “6 de Octubre” in Huaquillas, has been recognized for his contributions to student emotional well-being. He received an award during the first edition of the “Recognition of Good Practices by DECE Professionals” event.
The event was organized with support from the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture, as well as partner organizations such as Universidad del Hemisferio, OEI, Crisfe, and others that support teacher training. The initiative aims to highlight and strengthen the work carried out by DECE professionals for students’ overall well-being.
Lloré’s project centers on a behavioral observation tool designed to detect early signs of psychosocial risks among students aged 10 to 17. This simple 12-item checklist is completed by teachers and helps identify issues such as domestic violence, suicidal thoughts, depression, teenage pregnancy, and other factors affecting student performance and emotional health.
“This form allows us to detect warning signs and activate support routes—home visits, psychosocial follow-up, referrals—and work together with families. The goal is for our students to know they are not alone and that school is also a safe space,” said Lloré.
The process includes individual and group support sessions, creation of peer support groups for students facing similar challenges, emotional coping workshops, vocational guidance activities, and artistic initiatives like music as a means of expression.
Looking ahead, one key objective is implementing the “Mírame” project. This proposal seeks to promote respect and empathy through art forms such as music, dance, and drama while encouraging student leadership in preventing psychosocial risks.
For Lloré, institutional recognition is secondary: “The greatest reward is when a student says: thank you, teacher. When they make better decisions or move away from violent environments or discover their life project—that’s what really matters.”
He also shared a message with colleagues: “To educate is an act of love. Listening or asking how a student feels or offering encouragement can change their life. To my fellow DECE members I say: let’s make our work more visible; let’s keep pushing initiatives forward; let’s build paths together while taking care of what matters most—our students.”
