Dr. Ronald L. Friedman
Superintendent
Great Neck Public Schools
If there’s an educator’s gene, Dr. Ronald L. Friedman inherited it from his mother, whose career as an English teacher inspired him to enter the field. Now in his 42nd year in public education, Friedman started as a science teacher and worked as an assistant principal, acting principal, director of personnel, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent and superintendent of schools in five Long Island districts.
“Forever” is a long time, but Friedman admits that he is always looking for ways to customize education and find new and better ways of engaging students. He’s been extraordinarily successful in these efforts. As superintendent of Great Neck Public Schools, and previously as superintendent for Long Beach Public Schools, Friedman set out to touch one student at a time — by encouraging teachers’ creativity and deploying technology into the classrooms. He has also championed educational partnerships and collaborative programs, with the goal of bringing schools, businesses and other organizations together for the benefit of the greater community.
Passionate about education, Friedman twice served as president of the NYS Association of School Personnel Administrators and has held instructional positions in the teaching of school administration and school law at both Hofstra University and C. W. Post. He is a member of the executive board and president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents, serves on the Advisory Committee to the NYS Commissioner of Education and is a member of the House of Delegates of the NYS Council of School Superintendents. In addition, he is the author of numerous articles, has lectured in seminars and workshops for school administrators and received awards for his professional and humanitarian activities.
Friedman earned a doctorate and a professional diploma in educational administration from Hofstra University and a bachelor’s degree in theoretical physics from Cooper Union.
No stranger to technology, he is an amateur radio operator who also loves to build computers from parts — just for fun! He and his wife, Shelley, a social worker in private practice, have one son, Dustin.
