About our author Marilyn Friend has over 40 years of experience in the field of education. She has been both a special education teacher and a general education teacher as well as a teacher educator, consultant and staff developer. She currently is professor emerita in the Department of Specialized Education Services at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and works extensively with local schools, school districts and other education agencies to ensure that students with disabilities or other special needs reach their potential. Her particular areas of expertise (the focus of her research, teaching, writing and consultation) include inclusive schooling, coteaching and other collaborative school practices, systems change, urban education and family-school partnerships.
