North Carolina People

President William Friday served as the president of the University of North Carolina system for thirty years. His work is legendary and indeed, he is considered an educational icon and hero to many, including me. The Friday Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Friday Institute at NC State University each bear his name. His biography is available here: http://www.unctv.org/biocon/wfriday/

For the last 30 years, he has hosted UNC-TV’s longest running television show, North Carolina People. Each year for the last 27 years, he has interviewed the North Carolina Principal of the Year. He shared with me that he looks forward to this particular conversation each year. This year, I had the honor of sitting down with President Friday and discussed the current budget situation, the importance of global education, changes in curriculum and instruction, and the importance of teachers. I also had the opportunity to share my appreciation for my own teachers and principal. As a native of North Carolina, educated in the public schools of North Carolina and in the University of North Carolina system (Western Carolina University), I was proud and humbled to converse with one of my heroes. At 91 years of age, President Friday is incredibly sharp and kept me on my toes throughout the interview.

The interview is linked here: http://video.unctv.org/program/1616436260/