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A look back at the top 10 ‘Friday with Ferrel’ columns

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Since the launch of EdNC in 2015, Ferrel Guillory’s column, “Friday with Ferrel,” has provided North Carolina with weekly context and commentary for what is happening in education.

In 2024, Ferrel will still be writing for EdNC, but he will provide long-form analysis of key issues facing our state this election year.

Not too long ago, Ferrel was awarded the Order of the Longleaf Pine, the highest honor awarded by the Governor’s office. The award is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to North Carolina.

Congressman David Price wrote in support of the award, “Guillory saw early on the unique promise of North Carolina as an exemplar of the New South, yet he was able to place our struggles and achievements in regional and national perspective. He has done this with great intelligence, moral sensitivity, and wisdom — for which he rightly deserves the state’s gratitude and recognition.”

Congratulations, Ferrel, and thank you for your commitment to good journalism across your career, your love and belief in North Carolina, and for founding EdNC.

Here are the “Friday with Ferrel” top 10 by pageviews over the years.

Perspective | Red state? Blue state? An education state
Perspective | Pay attention to the writing on the yellow bus
Perspective | Elevating the ‘teacher pay penalty’ on the state and national agenda
Perspective | Wrong time in history to cut back on history
Perspective | Professional pay for teachers ripples out to students
Perspective | Too-low teacher pay has opportunity costs
Perspective | Jill’s husband sends a signal: Public education a priority
Perspective | Big question: Is North Carolina’s education effort strong enough?
Perspective | Autumn sun rises above the two states of North Carolina
Perspective | Apple, Census, and North Carolina as a state of change