Andrea Freile to lead LatinxEd after national search

Andrea Freile will be the new executive director of LatinxEd, effective March, 2, according to an announcement from the organization. LatinxEd invests in Latine leaders and learners, supports postsecondary access, and celebrates the diverse strengths of Latine families.

Freile was a 2022 LatinxEd Fellow, and she has been active in the organization.

“We are confident she will steward this next chapter with care, clarity, and valor,” says the announcement.

Freile is the award-winning strategic communications and engagement coordinator for Wayne County Public Schools, where she has worked since 2022.

In that role, she has:

• Led district communications, marketing and engagement strategies;
• Showcased student, staff, school, and program successes and offerings (e.g. CTE, Arts, STEM, etc.) through digital content and storytelling;
• Supported employee recruitment/retainment efforts; and
• Coordinated the district volunteer program and Partners In Education program.

“Ms. Freile has a broad range of communications and engagement experience that has directly supported our schools, and which has helped her attain recognition and credibility at both the local and state levels,” said Superintendent Marc Whichard.

She has also been an instructor at Wayne Community College for almost 10 years.

“Having seen Andrea Freile’s work across North Carolina, I know she leads with an unwavering commitment to students and communities,” said Audrey “AJ” Jaeger, executive director of the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. “Her experience in districts and community colleges uniquely positions her to elevate the voices of Latine leaders and learners statewide.”

Freile serves as cochair of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs. A press release says, “Ms. Freile has vast leadership experience in consensus building and community engagement.”

“Every time I sit with this group, I’m reminded our voice matters. And more importantly, it’s being heard,” she posted.

She recently hosted the governor’s council in Wayne County. “This visit is about listening, learning, and collaborating to strengthen North Carolina and ensure every community thrives,” she said in a post online.

In the community I call home, our streets are alive with music, flavor, and life — from Brisas Latin Cuisine to Momento Tapas on Fridays, and Up North Pizzeria to Labrar Café to Kolibrí Cocktails on Saturdays. Every step downtown, you’re walking into Latino-owned businesses that don’t just add culture — they drive the local economy!

That’s why hosting the Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs in Eastern North Carolina for the first time in history wasn’t just symbolic — it was necessary. The same community bringing joy to downtown Goldsboro is shaping our workforce, classrooms, healthcare systems, and future leadership. These conversations matter — not just for the Governor’s office, but for our entire region.

— Andrea Freile

Freile was in Class 32 of Leadership North Carolina (LNC), and her participation was honored with the Stanley Frank Class Award for “demonstrated leadership has made a significant improvement to the quality of life, economic well-being, and/or sense of community in our state.”

The North Carolina state flag was flown above the State Capitol Building from sunrise to sunset on May 9, 2025, in her honor. Gov. Josh Stein offered special video remarks, celebrating Freile’s dedication and leadership.

She is a founder of Viva Cultura Consulting LLC.

In the weeks before the news was announced, Freile attended the inaugural meeting of The N.C. Coalition for Global Education.

She also welcomed in Class 33 of Leadership North Carolina.

And she celebrated with the LatinxEd fellows.

Freile grew up in Quito, Ecuador. Her family moved to the United States in 1995, and she has lived in Wayne County since 1998.

“Above all, I’m proud to bring my family’s immigrant story to this community — a legacy of purpose and amor,” she said recently.

You can also find Freile building homes for Habitat for Humanity, traveling internationally with educators, and spending time with her kids, Jack and Isabella.

Isabella is a 2023 LatinxEd fellow, and her mom could not be more proud. “We absolutely speak the LatinxEd language at home,” Freile said.

If you don’t know her or you want to celebrate this announcement, you can meet Freile at an event in Charlotte titled, “The Power of Us,” on March 5 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Here is how to pronounce her name.