NBC anchor Lester Holt chats by video
Toni Coleman and her U.S. Government students at Olive Branch’s Center Hill High School have a new ally in their study of how America works.
Lester Holt, anchor of NBC Nightly News, talked with Coleman’s AP U.S. Government class via FaceTime video Thursday after the class lobbied Holt hard on Twitter to pay them a visit. The students reached out to Holt while he was in Memphis Wednesday to broadcast from the National Civil Rights Museum on the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.
Katie Youngblood told Holt that Coleman was “obsessed” with him and said she promised the class a passing grade if Holt stopped by their school.
“Care to help out a few soon to graduate seniors??” Youngblood asked.
“... she is indeed obsessed!” added Danielle Virgin. “Stop by her school !!!! She’s an amazing teacher and cares about her students!”
Holt’s schedule didn’t allow him to visit in person while in town, but he obliged by chatting with the class on FaceTime Thursday. The class peppered him with questions, including his thoughts on being the first AfricanAmerican solo anchor of a network newscast and on the evolving media landscape.
“Sorry I couldn’t make it in person,” Holt tweeted Coleman in a follow-up. “But glad I could stop by via FaceTime! Thanks for having me .... Great questions and keep up the good work.”
“You made many new fans today!” Coleman replied. “You were so gracious to take time for my sweet kiddos! They will remember this for the rest of their lives!”
And, yes, Coleman admitted at the end of the chat with Holt that she was indeed obsessed with him. She asked Holt to do the lead-in for the schools’ TV news broadcast. Holt happily agreed, delivering: “I’m Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News, and Mustang TV starts right now.”