The William & Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation stands a beacon in North Carolina for advancing K-12 education in a variety of ways. Each year, the Friday Institute awards The Friday Medal in honor of someone who exemplifies “significant, distinguished and enduring contributions” to education. The 2024 Friday Medal recipient is SERVE Executive Director Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin.

Dr. William Friday, who served as president of the UNC System for 30 years, was known for his dedication to education and support for teachers, saying “teachers are the heart and soul of our educational system.”

At the Friday Medal Ceremony on November 18, 2024, Dr. Krista Glazewski, executive director for the Friday Institute, said “We are celebrating and honoring the impact and legacy of an inspirational leader who also works in service for our students. Dr. Pitre-Martin is a visionary leader committed to expanding access and innovation for all learners.”

With an extensive history of education leadership both within and outside of North Carolina, Dr. Pitre-Martin is known for her support for students and teachers through her caring and dynamic leadership style that embraces all facets of education and all those who are in the education profession.

Prior to joining SERVE at UNC Greensboro, Dr. Pitre-Martin was the director of board operations and policy for the NC State Board of Education and NC Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). She previously served as NCDPI’s deputy state superintendent and chief academic and digital officer, superintendent of Thomasville City Schools, and state director of K-12 curriculum and instruction and regional lead supervisor for NCDPI.

Outside of NC, she has held positions as superintendent of Petersburg City Public Schools in Virginia, chief academic officer for the School District of Philadelphia, and assistant superintendent for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Louisiana. She also served as the director of research and staff development for the Fort Bend Independent School District in Sugar Land, Texas, and the principal of Oakwood Intermediate School in College Station, Texas. In 2002, Dr. Pitre-Martin was the Texas Middle School Principal of the Year.

According to Dr. June Atkinson, former NC Superintendent for Public Instruction, who provided the introduction of Dr. Pitre-Martin during the ceremony, “Throughout those positions and in the many years I have known her, she has exhibited the heart of a teacher as she has carried out her duties. Dr. Pitre-Martin is a very worthy recipient of the Friday medal—an award that recognizes significant contributions, distinguished services, and an enduring legacy in education.”

Dr. Pitre-Martin shared, “My vision for education is clarity and cohesion. This is needed for the future and beyond. Our students deserve it, our families deserve it, and our community deserves it.”  Our priority has to be the education of our students, the support of the educators pouring into those students, and our efforts to ensure that our families and communities are given what they need to believe and to support the educational journey.”

“This award is a testament to Dr. Pitre-Martin’s exemplary track record and transformational impact in the field of education. Her outstanding approach toward finding solutions to address current and emerging issues are making significant life changes. We are so proud to have her at UNCG, driving the SERVE Center’s critical, nationally impactful work to improve educational outcomes for all” commented Dr. Obare.

Eric Davis, Chairman of the NC State Board of Education, expressed his sentiments about Dr. Pitre-Martin’s contributions, “One of the many gifts we enjoy in North Carolina is to have as one of our public education professional leaders, Dr. Marie Pitre-Martin. Throughout her career, Dr. Pitre-Martin has taught and led with the perfect combination of a relentless pursuit of educational excellence, an inspiring determination to achieve and innovate, and a wonderful spirit of compassion and grace. Dr. Pitre-Martin lifts up those around her, making them better educators, better parents, and even better board members. Most of all she inspires her students to be better. Dr. Pitre-Martin in a beautiful way, just makes you want to do more for others and to do it better, every day. All of us are better today because of our NC public school champion, Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin.”

Possibly the best description of the event was shared in a LinkedIn post by Dr. Glazewski, “We don’t have big galas with paparazzi and red carpets in education, but at least for one night, we were able to honor a star who has given lifelong service to education: we are all better because of the contributions by Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin.”

For more than three decades, SERVE at UNC Greensboro has provided high quality research, evaluation, and customized support to educators

Post and Photos by: Judi Rossabi, Communications Specialist