Maddalena Tedeschi

Maddalena Tedeschi graduated with honors in Pedagogy from the University of Bologna.

In 1981 she became an educator at Reggio Emilia’s “Gianni Rodari” municipal infant-toddler centre, where she collaborated with Loris Malaguzzi, Carla Rinaldi, Vea Vecchi and Mirella Ruozzi.

In 1991 she became Pedagogista and member of the Pedagogical Coordination of Reggio Emilia Municipality.

Tedeschi participated in the design of the new "Rodari" Infant-toddler Centre, the "Nilde Iotti" and "Parco Ottavi" infant-toddler centres, and the Preschool and Primary school at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, which she inaugurated and supervised pedagogically for 10 years.

She was also a teacher at several other municipal infant-toddler centres and preschools, including “Alice” Infant-toddler Centre, “Rodari Infant-toddler Centre, “Diana” Preschool, and “Allende” Infant-toddler Centre and Preschool. In this latter, she also participated in designing the school garden and park, which then became a City Atelier for outdoor explorations.

Tedeschi was a member of project groups for the realisation of several Ateliers at the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre, the first of which in chronological order was the Ray of Light Atelier.

She was Responsible for the “Complex Organizational Unit” of the Istituzione Preschools and Infant-Toddler Schools of Reggio Emilia Municipality, a role which she held until her retirement at the end of 2024.

She has conducted research, professional learning, and consulting on educational spaces and environments, on the use of digital technologies and environments in education, the culture of the Atelier, and architecture for children, and has represented Reggio Emilia in numerous national and international contexts.

While working with the Reggio schools, Tedeschi has authored and curated exhibitions and publications for Reggio Children publishers and collaborated with Reggio Children and the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre on disseminating and innovating the pedagogical thinking of Reggio Emilia.

At the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Tedeschi teaches the course “The Languages of Art and Digital Media” part of the Sciences of Primary Education degree in the Faculty of Education and Human Sciences.

She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Gruppo Nazionale Nidi, Italy’s national infant-toddler centre group.

Maddalena Tedeschi has been President of Reggio Children since September 2025.