Designed and coded by Cátia Monteiro © 2025

Welcome!

I'm a Full-Stack Developer and UI/UX Advocate, specializing in building intuitive, user-friendly applications.On the front end, I work with HTML, CSS, Tailwind, JavaScript, React, and Next.js. On the back end, I focus on creating scalable RESTful APIs using Express.js and MongoDB to ensure seamless communication between client and server.

My journey has brought me from teaching to development. Teaching taught me to put people first. Understanding the needs of my students was at the heart of my work, and this perspective inevitably shapes how I now approach web development. As an advocate for UI/UX design, I ensure that every digital experience is intuitive, accessible, and people-centered.

Transferable Skills

My journey from teaching to web development isn't about starting from scratch—it's about turning years of experience into a foundation for something new.

Toggle between roles to see how my acquired skills as a teacher naturally align with the demands of web development.

User-Centric Design

As Teacher

Designed lessons tailored to diverse learning needs, ensuring every student felt included and engaged.

As Developer

Create user-friendly interfaces and experiences, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility in web applications.

Communication & Collaboration

As Teacher

Collaborated with teams of teachers, and parents to align on goals and strategies, fostering a shared vision of student success.

As Developer

Collaborate effectively with team members and stakeholders, communicating technical ideas clearly and keeping projects on track.

Problem-Solving & Adaptability

As Teacher

Adapted lesson plans and teaching strategies in real time to address unexpected challenges or meet individual student needs.

As Developer

Debug complex issues, adapting quickly to new tools, frameworks, or project requirements as they arise.

Data Analysis & Decision-Making

As Teacher

Collected and analyzed student performance data to make informed decisions about lesson adjustments and personalized support strategies.

As Developer

Use data-driven approaches to optimize application performance, improve user experiences, and decide on feature development.

Project Management

As Teacher

Designed and led project-based learning activities, managing timelines, organizing resources, and guiding students to meet learning objectives.

As Developer

Collaborate with team members, and manage timelines to ensure features are delivered on schedule and meet project requirements.

Evaluation & Testing

As Teacher

Developed and implemented assessments to evaluate student progress and identify areas for improvement.

As Developer

Conduct thorough testing to ensure code reliability, functionality, and user satisfaction.

Education

Certificate in Full-Stack Web Development

April 2024 - June 2025

DCI Digital Career Institute GmbH

Berlin, Germany (Remote)

  • Built Single Page Applications (SPAs), implementing state management (Context API & Reducers), component-based architecture, and efficient API consumption to enhance user experience and performance.
  • Developed full-stack applications with the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js), focusing on backend logic, API design, authentication, database management, and server-side performance optimization.
  • Developed individual and group projects, applying Agile/Scrum methodologies to manage workflows effectively. Participated in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives to improve team efficiency.
  • Used Git and GitHub for version control and team collaboration, managing branches, creating pull requests, resolving merge conflicts, maintaining a clean commit history, and documenting code through clear commit messages and README files.

Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education

September 2003 - June 2007

University of Minho

Braga, Portugal

Work Experience

Primary School Teacher

February 2021 - August 2023

Leipzig International School

Leipzig, Germany

January 2008 - August 2020

Four portuguese private schools

Porto & Lisbon, Portugal

Expertise

Front-end Development

  • JavaScript
  • React
  • Next.js
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • SCSS
  • Tailwind CSS
  • Bootstrap
  • Responsive Design
  • UI/UX Design
  • State Management

Back-end Development

  • Node.js
  • Express.js
  • MongoDB
  • Mongoose
  • RESTful APIs

Version Control & Collaboration

  • Git
  • GitHub

Software Testing

  • Vitest
  • Cypress

Projects

Here are some projects I've created as part of my learning journey. At the top you'll find the most recent ones, while exploring from the bottom will reveal how my skills have grown over time.

Each project reflects a moment where I had to step up and learn something new. From starting to use Tailwind to simplify responsive design when CSS fell short, to learning to test my app as its complexity grew, these challenges reveal a clear pattern: each limitation I faced became an opportunity to explore better tools and approaches, creating a roadmap of continuous learning and innovation. I'm excited to see what new challenges will inspire my next steps.

Select each project to see its details.

Neighbourhood Helper

February 2025

Alt-West Connect is a community-driven platform where users can request or offer help. Whether you need a ride, groceries, or quick assistance, the app connects people in Alt-West Leipzig willing to help within their neighbourhood. NOTE: The back end is hosted on Render's free tier - please allow ~10 seconds for the initial load while the server spins up from cold start.

ReactJavaScriptTailwind CSSState Management (Context API & Reducers)Node.jsExpress.jsMongoDBMongooseRESTful APIResponsive Design
Neighbourhood Helper

Portfolio

December 2024 - January 2025

The portfolio you are currently browsing, intended to showcase my skills in web development. Built with 🤍 from scratch by moi-même.

ReactNext.jsJavaScriptTailwind CSSFramer MotionResponsive Design

Online Art Gallery

November - December 2024

The Frame is a marketplace platform where artists can showcase their work and art lovers can purchase artwork. It's my first fully responsive and tested work.

ReactJavaScriptTailwind CSSFirebaseVitestCypressResponsive Design
Online Art Gallery

Trip Planner

November 2024

TripPlanner helps you create detailed travel plans with interactive maps, activity scheduling, and budget tracking. Optimized for desktop use.

ReactJavaScriptCSSFirebase
Trip Planner

The National - Band Landing Page

November 2024

This landing page is a tribute to one of my favourite bands, The National, and it's inspired by their official website. It was made responsive in January 2025.

ReactJavaScriptCSSTailwind CSSFramer MotionResponsive Design
The National - Band Landing Page

Text Adventure Game

October 2024

Chronicles of Forgotten Lands is a modern take on classic text-based adventure games, blending storytelling, puzzle-solving, and dynamic gameplay. Playable on desktop only.

JavaScriptHTMLCSS
Text Adventure Game

Catching Game

September2024

Oktoberfest Frenzy is a fun game where players catch falling pretzels and beers at Oktoberfest. Playable on desktop only.

JavaScriptHTMLCSS
Catching Game

Contact

I'm always open to new opportunities and collaborations. Whether you're a potential employer, have a project idea, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out—I'd love to hear from you.

linkedingithub