Marianna Freydlin

Marianna Freydlin is a New York City public school educator with more than 18 years of experience building learning communities centered on student voice, leadership, and belonging. She believes deeply in education as a space of possibility and connection, and her work has focused on creating the conditions for students and educators to thrive.

At P.S./I.S. 266Q in Queens, Marianna founded the school’s Student Union, which engages students each year in leadership, clubs, and civic initiatives, as well as The Pride of 266, a newsroom of more than 60 student reporters and photographers in grades 3–8. With fellow educator Christopher Saccardo, she co-created the Middle School Press Corps to push student journalism beyond the walls of individual schools; connecting young journalists across the city, creating opportunities for them to learn and lead together, and helping students recognize their role as voices of their communities.

For more than a decade, Marianna has mentored educators and developed programs and partnerships that bring students and teachers into work beyond their classrooms, from student-led belonging initiatives and civic action to professional learning for educators. Across that work, she has sought to connect people, ideas, and communities in ways that expand what is possible for both students and the educators who serve them.