The Friday Dive https://thefridaydive.podbean.com Across North Carolina, wonderful things are happening every day in our public schools: students overcoming challenges, educators innovating in their classrooms, and communities rallying around learning. Too often, though, these stories go unheard.

At the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, we believe that changing the conversation about public education begins with listening to the people at its heart. Inspired by William Friday’s lifelong commitment to education and public service, we recently launched a new initiative: a statewide podcast designed to elevate authentic, first-hand stories from North Carolina’s public schools.

Through this podcast, The Friday Dive, we are “flipping the script” on commonly misunderstood or negatively framed issues in education. Each season focuses on a timely theme such as computer science and AI in schools, teacher motivation and retention, recovery from natural disasters, or the impact of targeted funding. Episodes feature educators, students and school communities sharing what is working and why it matters. These are not abstract success stories and are grounded in personal narratives that build understanding, trust and public pride in our schools.

]]> Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0400 https://podbean.com/?v=5.5 en us Copyright 2026 All rights reserved. Education 1440 episodic Friday Institute Friday Institute No false https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21992771/Friday_Dive_Square_mark_rgb.png The Friday Dive https://thefridaydive.podbean.com 144 144 Episode 3 - Bits, Bytes, and Cybersecurity Episode 3 - Bits, Bytes, and Cybersecurity https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/bits-bytes-and-cybersecurity/ https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/bits-bytes-and-cybersecurity/#comments Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:00:00 -0400 thefridaydive.podbean.com/9e6615c0-2e25-3c27-8992-8f296aa1c501 Tune in for a conversation between the Friday Institute's Amir Lawrence and Reedy Creek Magnet Middle School's Stephanie Raeman as they talk about the importance of teaching students the fundamentals of cybersecurity, AI, and computer science, especially at the middle school level.

]]> Tune in for a conversation between the Friday Institute's Amir Lawrence and Reedy Creek Magnet Middle School's Stephanie Raeman as they talk about the importance of teaching students the fundamentals of cybersecurity, AI, and computer science, especially at the middle school level.

]]> Friday Institute false No 3009 3 full Episode 2 - "Stick with it" Episode 2 - "Stick with it" https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/episode-2-stick-with-it/ https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/episode-2-stick-with-it/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 -0400 thefridaydive.podbean.com/df56f380-f9a5-320c-9297-6cce3ca50671 In this episode of The Friday Dive, we spoke to two educators about how they motivate and encourage students to persist in the computer science field. Holly Laird, a computer science teacher in Wake County, and Russell Dirgo, a former computer science teacher and current employee at the Friday Institute, share their thoughts about the computer science and AI landscape, interactions they've had with current and former students, and encouraging their students to "stick with it" and not be afraid to fail. 

If you have any stories you'd want to share with us, or want to tell us about your favorite teacher, feel free to send us an email at kwinn@ncsu.edu (Kevin) or aarenas@ncsu.edu (Aaron).

]]> In this episode of The Friday Dive, we spoke to two educators about how they motivate and encourage students to persist in the computer science field. Holly Laird, a computer science teacher in Wake County, and Russell Dirgo, a former computer science teacher and current employee at the Friday Institute, share their thoughts about the computer science and AI landscape, interactions they've had with current and former students, and encouraging their students to "stick with it" and not be afraid to fail. 

If you have any stories you'd want to share with us, or want to tell us about your favorite teacher, feel free to send us an email at kwinn@ncsu.edu (Kevin) or aarenas@ncsu.edu (Aaron).

]]> Friday Institute false No 2377 1 2 full Episode 1 - Computer Science: It's Definitely Elementary Episode 1 - Computer Science: It's Definitely Elementary https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/episode-1-computer-science-its-definitely-elementary/ https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/episode-1-computer-science-its-definitely-elementary/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:42:33 -0500 thefridaydive.podbean.com/9f8a228e-eadc-3e30-86e5-f974a6a3b95c In this episode of The Friday Dive, Dr. Ellie Ebrahimi, an Associate Professor from University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Kristin Calhoun-Minnis, a STEM teacher at Clinton City Schools, share insights on how early exposure to computer science builds problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence in young learners—and why it’s never too early to start.

]]> In this episode of The Friday Dive, Dr. Ellie Ebrahimi, an Associate Professor from University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Kristin Calhoun-Minnis, a STEM teacher at Clinton City Schools, share insights on how early exposure to computer science builds problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence in young learners—and why it’s never too early to start.

]]> William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation false No 1629 1 1 full The Friday Dive - Pilot Episode The Friday Dive - Pilot Episode https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/the-friday-dive-pilot-episode/ https://thefridaydive.podbean.com/e/the-friday-dive-pilot-episode/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:55:30 -0500 thefridaydive.podbean.com/6042cea2-67fb-358e-8fad-9feb4b7c6b8a In our pilot episode of The Friday Dive, we invited Dr. Krista Glazewski, the Executive Director of the Friday Institute, to talk to us about the legacy of Bill & Ida Friday on North Carolina public education. She also shares her thoughts on the current educational landscape in North Carolina and how the Friday Institute has been collaborating with educators across the state. 

 

This podcast is sponsored by the NC State University Foundation Grant.

]]> In our pilot episode of The Friday Dive, we invited Dr. Krista Glazewski, the Executive Director of the Friday Institute, to talk to us about the legacy of Bill & Ida Friday on North Carolina public education. She also shares her thoughts on the current educational landscape in North Carolina and how the Friday Institute has been collaborating with educators across the state. 

 

This podcast is sponsored by the NC State University Foundation Grant.

]]> William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University false No 1561 full