As part of the U.S. Department of Education's third annual back-to-school bus tour, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will visit Henderson Middle School in Richmond, Va., on Friday, Sept. 21, to highlight First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign that focuses on confronting and ending childhood obesity. During the event, Duncan will give remarks and promote the new Presidential Youth Fitness Program that encourages and empowers students to adopt and maintain active lifestyles. Duncan also will participate in a series of field games and tour a school health clinic that provides screenings for middle school students. Yvonne Brandon, superintendent of Richmond public schools; Jeanine Turner, principal of Henderson Middle School; other educators and Congressional representatives will join Duncan. A media availability will follow the event.
"America's future is directly linked to the quality of education that we provide our children, young people and adults," said Duncan, who began the tour on Wednesday, Sept. 12, in Redwood City, Calif. "The bus tour is an opportunity to highlight what's working and create momentum for education reforms that improve the lives of all students."
The bus tour will conclude on Friday evening, Sept. 21, with a back-to-school speech by Duncan and a rally that includes performances by musical artists on the Department's plaza in Washington, D.C. The goal of the bus tour is to reinforce the message that Education Drives America. Besides Richmond, some of the other stops included Sacramento, Calif.; Reno, Nev.; Cheyenne, Wyo.; Denver; Topeka, Kan.; Kansas City, Mo.; St. Louis; Evansville, Ind.; Lexington, Ky.; Charleston, W.Va.; and Roanoke, Va.
For live, up-to-the-minute updates from the road, follow the Education Drives America tour on Twitter using the hashtag #edtour12, or visit the Department's bus tour blog. To receive media advisories, press releases, notifications about postings to the blog, and other special updates during the tour, subscribe to the Department's new Education Drives America e-mail updates by clicking here.
In addition to Duncan's school visit, senior Department of Education officials also will stop in Richmond on Sept. 21 for events listed below.