White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will discuss the vital role of education in preparing students for the jobs of the future during a visit on Friday, Sept. 9, to the Milwaukee School of Career and Technical Education, which is a science, technology, engineering and mathematics- (STEM) focused school that was awarded a federal School Improvement Grant (SIG) in 2010. National and local leaders including U.S. Sens. Herb Kohl and Ron Johnson, Gov. Scott Walker, State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Gregory Thornton are scheduled to join Barnes and Duncan for a classroom visit and town hall to promote successful strategies for improving STEM and career and technical education. A press availability will follow the event.
Several Department officials are in Milwaukee today, Thursday, Sept. 8, to focus on the roles that various partners – business leaders, community groups and parents – play in ensuring that all students and teachers are able to receive the support they need to receive a quality education and ultimately a college degree so they are prepared to enter the workforce and compete for jobs.