U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. will visit Sallie Humble Elementary School in Monroe, Louisiana, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, as part of this year’s back-to-school bus tour. Following the visit, King will participate in a roundtable discussion to highlight the work Louisiana has done under its $17.5 million Race to the Top (RTT) grant, specifically Louisiana’s “Believe and Prepare Program.” The program has helped the state prepare its next generation of teachers to work in an environment where all students are held to high standards, by pairing teacher candidates in teacher preparation programs with mentor teachers for a year-long residency.
The event will provide an opportunity for King to engage directly with teachers and mentors at Humble Elementary School, which is part of Monroe City Schools—a new district partner in the “Believe and Prepare Program.” The program highlights the true leadership continuum for teachers in the state by providing excellent teachers with the opportunity to become mentors, giving them leadership opportunities and an expanded role, while allowing them to stay in the classroom.
King and senior Education Department officials are hosting the seventh and final back-to-school bus tour to celebrate progress in communities and states across the country. The tour kicked off in the nation’s capital and is traveling all the way to Louisiana, from Monday, Sept. 12 to Friday, Sept. 16, 2016. This year’s “Opportunity Across America” tour includes stops in Washington, D.C.; Charlottesville, Virginia; Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee; Harvest, Alabama; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianola, Mississippi; and Monroe, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana. King and other senior Department officials will hold events touting the Administration’s key initiatives over eight years, highlighting the progress made to expand opportunity across the nation and the groundwork laid for continued momentum.
President Barack Obama entered office in 2009 with a comprehensive vision for improving our education system to advance our children’s opportunity and success. That vision included efforts to address the dropout crisis, improve student achievement, and increase graduation rates; expand equity in education through stronger schools; ensure all students achieve to high standards that prepare them for college and career; and grow innovation and investment in what works, while safeguarding the right of all students to a world-class education. Thanks to the hard work of educators, state and local leaders, communities, parents, families, and students, the nation has made significant educational progress over the last eight years. To build on our prosperity and competitiveness as a nation, the Administration has worked diligently to make a positive difference for students and to continue the work to deliver on the promise of a world-class education to every child.
This event will include a press availability with King and local leaders. To RSVP for stops on the tour, please email [email protected].