Maria Friberg

Maria Friberg,
, Superintendent of Schools Tellusbarn

What is your role at Tellusgruppen?
I am the director of Tellusbarn’s southern preschools and am currently also the principal in charge of two of them.

What does a typical day look like for you?
My days are very varied, which I really appreciate. I visit all the preschools where I serve as principal to hold meetings and act as a sounding board for my principals. At the preschools where I am the principal, I have many conversations with the teachers and step in to help with the children’s groups when needed, for example during professional development sessions.

I’m also involved in shaping and developing our operations at a more strategic level, working alongside the management team and other roles within the company. Developing both our operations and the people within them—and being able to do so together—is so inspiring and rewarding.

I am currently in the process of opening a preschool in Vega, Haninge, which will be a major cultural preschool, and in August we will be opening a new preschool in Ursvik, which will have a Swedish-English focus.

If you were to recommend a friend to apply at Tellusgruppen, what points would you emphasize?
My friends probably already see the fact that I’ve been working here for so long—since 2011—as a recommendation in itself. But I’d also highlight that we have short decision-making processes, that employees are encouraged to get involved, and that there are great opportunities for professional growth here.

We focus on real solutions rather than problems, and I’m proud that we’ve made it a priority to have special education teachers, art teachers, and so on, even though times are tough.

Facts
Name: Maria Friberg
Years at Tellusgruppen: I started in 2011 as an assistant preschool director and preschool teacher at one of our smaller preschools, and was soon entrusted with the role of preschool director. After that, I worked for many years as a principal at three of our preschools while pursuing my principal’s degree, and during my final year in the principal training program, I was entrusted with the role of school director for all of our preschools in southern Stockholm.
Education: Preschool teacher and principal
What do you enjoy doing most in your free time: Spending time with family, friends, and my two dogs—preferably in Roslagen 😊