Objective:

The paper aims at contributing to the notion of social educator illustrating it in brief account of the work of Ángel Hernández Navarro.

Method:

From a qualitative approach, documentary analysis is used, the methodology of research into the life and work of prominent educators, the methodology of generalizing systematization of life stories and the systematization of content as well as the dialectical materialist methodology that studies objects, subjects and facts in close relationship and development.

Results:

Two categories of analysis that integrate the traits established by other authors in the identification of historical personalities as social educators are proposed. The educational work of Ángel Hernández Navarro is characterized from the perspective of these categories.

Conclusions:

The categories proposed for the study and characterization of historical personalities as social educators involve the construction of a conceptual base, the characterization of the socio-historical context, the compilation, exegetical and axiological analysis of their works, delimitation and scope.