THE NORTH CAROLINIANA SOCIETY

In 2016, committed to supporting our state's k-12 teachers, the society and carolina k-12, a program of carolina public humanities at unc-ch, developed the william friday teacher education initiative. The goal of this now widely acclaimed initiative is to equally educate and appreciate our state's hard-working educators through free, quality professional development events, teacher retreats, and resources. Annual william friday teacher retreats: these unique retreats provide k-12 teachers with three dynamic days to learn about north carolina's captivating history, literature, and culture in an academic, professional, and celebratory retreat atmosphere. Each agenda strategically integrates: presentations on compelling topics from north carolina history, literature, culture, current events, and more, from engaging scholars, authors & performers in order to deepen participant's content knowledge interactive exploration of innovative teaching strategies and coordinating lesson plans to help teachers translate what they learn to their k-12 students immersive experiences (tours, museum visits, performances, etc.) that connect to program themes exploration of primary sources and online resources from unc-chapel hill libraries, such as wilson library's north carolina collection time for discussion and collaboration among attending teachers, a rarity in the hectic schedules of educators, but crucial for forging a network of teacher support around the state constant affirmation and appreciation of attending teachers and the challenges they face the society continued its support of the william friday teacher education initiative, contributing 42,000 to carolina public humanities as part of their continuous commitment to provide support to north carolina students and teachers. In june 2025, carolina k-12, the north caroliniana society, and the nc department of natural & cultural resources served 40 teachers from 13 counties at the annual william friday teacher retreat. This special group of educators were treated to three full days of learning and fun in asheville and at lake james state park. To date, 436 public school teachers from 86 nc counties have participated in the annual william friday teacher retreats. These teachers will reach a minimum of 61,040 k-12 students each school year. Since 2022, an additional 670 north carolininians have been reached through other events sponsored by the society in partnership with carolina k-12.

North caroliniana society published an imprint and an annual report; presented the annual north caroliniana society award, north caroliniana society book award and william stevens powell award.