Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Brenda Girton-Mitchell will visit Western Valley Child Care Center Head Start program in the Fowler Elementary School District at 8:30 a.m. MST on Friday, April 10, in Phoenix. She will tour the Head Start classrooms and miniature art studios and view current displays inspired by Alexander Calder and modern architecture and then she will proceed to the Grand Art Studio, Room 311, to view current displays inspired by New York City. After the tour students will perform “Trip to Shanghai” in the multi-purpose room.
Following the school visit Girton-Mitchell and Deputy Under Secretary of Education Jeff Appel will give remarks at the Phoenix Education Summit in Phoenix. The summit, titled “Reclaiming Youth Talent,” will focus on the importance of investing in education and the long-term benefits of that investment. Appel will discuss the importance of community engagement, as well as national efforts to encourage businesses to offer support to youths through mentoring, internships, scholarships and more. He also will discuss the educational priorities of the Obama Administration, which include providing opportunities for all students; making real investments in high-poverty schools and districts, and addressing funding inequities for schools that serve high proportions of low-income students; providing educators with the resources they need to make real, enriched learning possible; and ensuring high expectations for all students. Girton-Mitchell will bring greetings and provide an overview of the National League of Cities (NLC) – Department of Education collaboration with mayors and communities, as well as support ongoing discussions at the summit.
The event is a part of the GradNation Community Summits and NLC – U.S. Department of Education mayor-led community conversations on education. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton is expected to give welcoming remarks. These conversations with local leaders, educators, families and community leaders are taking place in a number of cities across the country to discuss strategies to improve educational outcomes for children.