Home/About Michele

Founder of Brilliant Minds

Michele Farizatto

More than 20 years of experience across psychology, education, special education, inclusion, educational leadership, literacy, and family-school collaboration in Brazil.

A multidisciplinary background is the foundation for the Brilliant Minds vision of connecting child development, families, schools, and professionals more effectively.

View Michele's LinkedIn profile →

Portrait of Michele Farizatto, founder of Brilliant Minds Human Development.

From experience to vision

What I saw throughout my career shaped the idea for Brilliant Minds.

Working across classrooms, educational leadership, inclusion, family collaboration, and psychology gave me a view of child development from several sides. Again and again, I saw that children may receive support from committed families, educators, and professionals, while those efforts do not always connect consistently across environments.

That experience became one of the foundations for Brilliant Minds: my vision of a multidisciplinary organization where child development, family guidance, educational collaboration, and professional communication are considered together rather than in isolation.

Professional foundation

20+

Years of experience

Education · Psychology · Inclusion

Psychology

Universidade Metodista de São Paulo

Special education

Postgraduate specialization
University of São Paulo

Continuous professional development

Inclusive education · Literacy · Learning · Child development

Professional experience

More than 20 years turning knowledge into practice.

Michele's experience spans public and private education, educational leadership, inclusive practice, psychology, literacy, and family-school collaboration. Across each environment, her work has focused on a common purpose: understanding the child as a whole and creating stronger connections between children, families, educators, and professionals.

Private education · São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, Brazil

Educational Leadership, Inclusion & School-Family Collaboration

At Colégio Stágio, Michele's work extended across pedagogical coordination, educational guidance, school psychology, literacy, and teacher development. She shaped inclusive educational practice, supported students with diverse learning profiles, and collaborated closely with families and external specialists — while developing institutional initiatives that helped a whole school community sustain inclusion over time.

  • Pedagogical coordination & educational guidance
  • School psychology & teacher development
  • Inclusive practice & diverse learning profiles
  • Family collaboration & work with specialists

Selected initiative:

Look to Include

Parents' School

Protagonists of Knowledge

Municipal Government of São Bernardo do Campo · Brazil

Literacy, Inclusion & Direct Work With Children

In public education, Michele worked directly with children through early-years education, literacy, and conflict mediation. She brought differentiated activities and individualized educational planning into everyday practice, kept inclusion and student participation at the center, and maintained close family communication in support of each child's academic and socioemotional development.

  • Early-years education & literacy
  • Conflict mediation
  • Differentiated activities & individualized planning
  • Inclusion, participation & family communication

Selected initiative:

Project Diversity

Psychological practice · Brazil

Understanding Development Beyond the Classroom

Michele's psychological practice with children, adolescents, and adults expanded her perspective on the emotional, behavioral, developmental, relational, learning, and family factors that influence how each person grows.

  • Emotional development
  • Learning
  • Behavior
  • Family relationships
  • Individualized support

Selected work

Projects that connect the child, the family, the professional, and the environment.

Together, these initiatives trace the same ecosystem Brilliant Minds intends to connect — from each child's learning, to the families around them, to the educators and inclusive environments that make progress last.

Look to Include

Inclusion · Educator preparation · Family involvement

An inclusion-focused initiative developed at Colégio Stágio, connecting educator preparation, adapted approaches, and family participation around students with diverse learning needs.

Parents' School

Family empowerment · Practical guidance

A family education initiative offering guidance on positive discipline, socioemotional development, parenting, and children's educational development — helping caregivers support learning at home.

Protagonists of Knowledge

Student autonomy · Interdisciplinary active learning

An active, interdisciplinary learning initiative focused on autonomy, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and student participation in their own learning.

Project Diversity

Belonging · Respect · Inclusive environments

An initiative fostering belonging, respect, and understanding of differences, building more inclusive educational environments across the school community.

Testimonials

Trusted by leaders in education, psychology & inclusion.

Perspectives from professionals who worked alongside Michele across education, psychology, inclusion, and school leadership.

Michele consistently demonstrated initiative, creativity, and strategic thinking, with an exceptional ability to lead transformative projects that enriched our curriculum, strengthened inclusion, and created lasting educational and social impact.

Marcia Penteriche Menucelli

Founder & Director, Colégio Stágio

São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil

Worked closely with Michele for more than 20 years

Michele has a rare ability to bridge theory, practice, and systemic change, integrating academic learning with socioemotional development in ways that strengthened students’ confidence, motivation, and ownership of their learning.

Ana Lúcia Seifer

Educational Counselor & Psychologist, Colégio Stágio

São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil

Worked closely with Michele for 14 years

Michele brought evidence-based methodologies into practice with empathy and clarity, translating research in neuroeducation and inclusive pedagogy into meaningful changes for students, teachers, and families.

Angélica Chico

Educational Specialist & University Professor

São Paulo, Brazil

Former colleague at Colégio Stágio

Michele represents a rare combination of vision and execution. She transforms pedagogical knowledge into inclusive, sustainable practices while giving educators practical tools and strengthening the connection between families and schools.

Carla Cristina Arruda

Pedagogical Director, Instituto Multiplicidades

São Paulo, Brazil

Observed Michele’s leadership at Colégio Stágio

Michele combines academic rigor with practical leadership. She has consistently anticipated educational trends and transformed them into meaningful, inclusive practices that enhanced learning while influencing the broader culture of the institution.

Katia Maria Santana Souto

Professor & Researcher, UNIFESP

São Paulo, Brazil

Worked with Michele beginning in 2011

Michele understands that true inclusion extends beyond individualized support. She connects the child, educators, and family, creating strategies that strengthen learning, teacher confidence, family participation, and each student’s sense of belonging.

Marília Rodrigues de Souza

Pedagogical Coordinator, Public Education System

São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil

Worked closely with Michele

Michele’s leadership enabled teachers to feel prepared, students to feel valued, and families to feel supported. Her work connected academic development with inclusion, autonomy, and socioemotional growth.

Luciana dos Santos Nomoto

School Principal

São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil

Collaborated with Michele on educational projects

Michele created meaningful connections with students while combining warmth, inclusion, and academic rigor. Her holistic approach supported children’s academic and emotional development while encouraging creativity, responsibility, and active participation.

Valéria Aparecida da Silva

School Principal

São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil

Worked directly with Michele in public education

Michele consistently elevated the standards of care and inclusion in our school, particularly for neurodivergent students, while empowering educators and families with the knowledge and strategies needed to support each child.

Henrique Bovo Lopes

Pedagogical Coordinator, Colégio Stágio & Stagio Academy

São Paulo, Brazil

Worked directly with Michele for 15 years

45

Her role at Brilliant Minds

Turning experience into a connected model of support.

As Founder, Michele will guide the strategic, developmental, and educational direction of Brilliant Minds as the organization grows, helping shape its multidisciplinary model, family and school collaboration, professional partnerships, and standards of quality.

Multidisciplinary direction

Helping shape a structure in which professionals can work around shared developmental priorities rather than as disconnected services.

Family & school connection

Keeping families and educational environments involved in understanding and supporting each child.

Inclusion & educational integration

Bringing practical inclusion experience into collaboration with children, families, educators, schools, and future multidisciplinary professionals.

Professional education

Supporting the future development of training, resources, workshops, partnerships, and educational programs.

The vision ahead

Brilliant Minds is the next chapter of a purpose that has guided my work for more than two decades.

For me, Brilliant Minds is about bringing together what I have learned from children, families, educators, schools, and psychology into a more connected way of supporting development. I want families to feel that they do not have to understand every system or coordinate every piece alone, and I want professionals to have stronger opportunities to work together around the needs of each child.

Michele Farizatto · Founder

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