Assistant Secretary Dann-Messier to Visit Las Vegas and Highlight Role of Adult, Career and Technical Education Programs in Strengthening the Economy

The U.S. Department of Education's Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education Brenda Dann-Messier travels to Las Vegas on Monday to visit local adult, career and technical education programs and to hold roundtable discussions on disconnected youth, adult education and career pathways.

Dann-Messier will tour the Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy where she will hold a roundtable discussion with local officials, teachers, and students. In the afternoon, Dann-Messier will head to Desert Rose Adult High School and Career Center, where she will host two additional roundtables on career pathways and disconnected youth. Participants will include Desert Rose students, faculty, staff members, and Clark County youth service providers who are working to re-engage disconnected youth.

Dann-Messier leads the Department's efforts in adult education and career and technical education, as well as efforts supporting community colleges and correctional education. In April, the Department released the Obama Administration's blueprint for transforming career and technical education. Dann-Messier joined Secretary Duncan to announce proposed reforms that will improve the quality of job-training opportunities that reduce skill shortages, spur business growth, encourage new investment and employment, and spark innovation and economic growth.

The visit to Nevada is part of Education Drives America, the U.S. Department of Education's third annual back-to-school bus tour. From Sept. 12-21, Secretary Duncan and his leadership team are crisscrossing the country highlighting education successes and engaging communities in conversations about school reform, college affordability and completion, community involvement in education, and the link between education and jobs.

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 Education Drives America e-mail updates by clicking here.