Teaching Channel Talks 52: Having the Courage to “Love Them First”

Mauri Melander Friestleben is a lifelong educator who started her career as a middle school teacher. She served as principal of Lucy Craft Laney at Cleveland Park Community School in North Minneapolis for 7 years before Friestleben accepted a new position as principal of Minneapolis North High School during the 2019-20 school year. Her years in the classroom overflowed with great challenges and even greater rewards, under Friestleben’s leadership, Lucy Laney saw unprecedented academic gains, with four years of growth on the state’s standardized tests. Friestleben says there are many commonalities she shares with her students; yet through barriers and strongholds, she stood strongly on her faith and strives to model for her students how odds can be beat, goals can be achieved and perseverance can be rewarded.

Wendy Amato earned her Master’s in Education and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. She holds an MBA from James Madison University. Wendy began teaching in 1991, has served as a Middle School Administrator, and still teaches at UVA’s School of Education. She has delivered teacher professional development workshops and student leadership workshops in the US and internationally. Wendy and her family live near Charlottesville, Virginia.