Pedro de Gante was a Flemish Franciscan missionary who played a significant role in the early religious education of indigenous peoples in New Spain. Born around 1480 in Geraardsbergen, he arrived in Mexico before the first major groups of missionaries. He dedicated his life to teaching Christian catechism, which required him to master the Nahuatl language. By establishing the School of San Jose, he founded the first European-style school in the Americas, leaving a lasting impact on the region's educational and religious history.