Cindy Gaston, one of the instructional coaches from the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts, was awarded the William Friday Award from the National Paideia Center for her "Individual Dedication to Paideia Teaching and Learning." Ms. Gaston was recognized on the closing day of the National Paideia Conference at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Ca.
William Friday was the president of the University System for the 16-campus University of North Carolina during the 1980s when the Paideia Program began in the Chattanooga/Hamilton County schools and the National Paideia Center was founded at UNC.
He was a personal friend of philosopher Mortimer Adler and one of the co-founders of the NPC. He was dedicated to the development of the Paideia Program across the United States and remained involved in the program until his death in 2012 at age 92.
Officials said, "It is particularly appropriate that Cindy receive this national award because just as Paideia has a long and storied history in Hamilton County, she has been a long-time proponent and leader of Paideia in the county's schools. The Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, along with the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts, represent the longest, continuously active Paideia schools in the country, and countless educators, as well as parents and alums, are enthusiastic supporters of the program as a result.
"Cindy herself has been a member of the National Paideia Faculty, and a trainer/consultant for the National Paideia Center as well as a leader of the program at CSLA."