My name is Rossana Maria Briceño, and I was born on July 26th, 1968 in the lively town of Orange Walk.
Since November 9, 1987, I have been married to the current Prime minister of Belize, Hon. John Briceño. Together, we have raised three remarkable children—Daniel, John, and Andre—and we are now blessed with the joy of our precious granddaughter named Celeste.
My life’s journey has always focused on education. With a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida, I have been committed to nurturing young minds, especially those with special needs. In 2018, I enrolled in a specialized program at Boston Houston University, where I continued my studies focusing on Diagnostics Assessment and Curriculum Development at the Master’s level.
I started my career at Stella Maris Government School, which is the only institution in Belize exclusively focused on teaching students with special needs. This was where my passion for inclusive education grew as I learned to embrace and nurture the unique abilities of these remarkable students.
For 33-years, I served at St. Peter’s Anglican School, first as a teacher and later I transitioned to the role of principal for a duration of 13 years. As a principal for those 13 years, I oversaw the implementation of a fully functional special needs center within the school. Ultimately, fostering an environment of equal opportunity and growth for my students and their families.
On January 22nd, 2021, I stepped down as principal of St. Peter’s Anglican School, and transitioned to begin a new chapter in my career as I embraced the mantle of Special Envoy for the Development of Families and Children. In this capacity, I set out on a mission to advocate for our most vulnerable families and children with the goal of empowering them to fully participate in Belize’s development.
My life journey has been driven by purpose, guided by love, education, and an unwavering commitment to the people of Belize. I look forward to the path ahead, and I reaffirm my commitment to building a more inclusive and promising Belize for all.