Marissa McGee is an award-winning author, educator, speaker, and consultant who is passionate about helping young people recognize their power to make a difference.
As the author of Free the Curls, Marissa creates stories that serve as both mirrors and windows — helping Black children see reflections of themselves while inviting all children to engage in empathy, perspective-taking, and meaningful conversations about fairness and belonging.
Marissa brings more than 15 years of experience in education to her work. She has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, consultant, district administrator, and lecturer at Stanford University. Her goal remains to support students, educators, and communities in creating more inclusive and equitable learning environments. In 2016, she was recognized as one of NPR Ed’s 50 Great Teachers.
Today, Marissa is the co-founder of Empowered Minds Collective, where she partners with schools and organizations to support belonging, equity, leadership development, and courageous conversations. Through her books, author visits, workshops, and consulting work, she continues to inspire the next generation of changemakers.
When she’s not writing or working with schools, Marissa enjoys traveling, serving on the board of a nonprofit dedicated to helping students access college, and cheering on the Golden State Warriors.
