Education Drives America

  • Education Secretary Duncan Walks to the Bus

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan walks to the tour bus at Denver International Airport (All Official White House Photos by Chuck Kennedy)

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  • Secretary Duncan Dances with Students

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan dances the "Cupid Shuffle" with students at Lowry Elementary School in Denver, Colo.

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  • Secretary Duncan and Secretary Sebelius Join Students for Lunch

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius join students for lunch at Lowry Elementary School.

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  • Secretary Duncan Shoots Baskets with Lowry Elementary School Students

    Secretary Arne Duncan shoots baskets with Lowry Elementary School students in Denver, Colo.

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  • Secretary Duncan Signs a Basketball

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan signs a souvenir basketball on board the bus between tour events in Colorado.

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  • Secretary Duncan Stands during the National Anthem

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan stands for the National Anthem during a Constitution Day presentation at Limon Public School in Limon, Colo.

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  • Secretary Duncan with Students at Constitution Day

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan greets students following the Constitution Day presentation at Limon Public School in Limon, Colo.

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  • Secretary Duncan Talks with First Grade Students

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan talks with first grade students at Limon Public School in Limon, Colo.

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  • Secretary Duncan at a Truck Stop

    Secretary Arne Duncan talks on his phone at a truck stop while traveling between Limon, Colo., and Topeka, Kan.

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  • Secretary Duncan Talks with Leola Brown

    Secretary Arne Duncan talks with Leola Brown, right, and Cheryl Brown, center, outside the Capitol building in Topeka, Kan.

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  • Secretary Duncan Meets with Governor Brownback

    Secretary Arne Duncan meets with Governor Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) at the Capitol Building in Topeka, Kan.

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  • Secretary Duncan Greets People Before his Speech

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan greets people before his speech at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka, Kan.

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  • Secretary Duncan Speech at the Monroe School Building

    Secretary Duncan delivers a speech on the steps of the Monroe School building, home of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site.

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  • Secretary Duncan with Janet Murguia

    Secretary Duncan answers questions at a parent town hall meeting on educational equity, civil rights and the Hispanic community in Kansas City, Kan.

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  • Secretary Duncan Meeting on the Bus

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan talks with Dennis Van Roekel, President of NEA, left, during the busride to Emporia State University.

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  • Secretary Arne Duncan Arrives at Emporia State University

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan arrives at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan., for a town hall meeting on the teaching profession.

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  • Secretary Duncan stands with Corky

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan stands with "Corky," the Emporia State University hornet mascot before a town hall meeting on the teaching profession.

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  • Secretary Duncan Visits the National Teacher Hall of Fame

    Secretary Duncan looks at a copy of "Helpful Hints for the Rural Teacher" while visiting an exhibit in the National Teacher Hall of Fame.

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  • Secretary Duncan Speaks to Education Students

    Secretary of Education Arne Duncan speaks to education students and faculty at a standing-room-only town hall meeting on the teaching profession.

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  • Secretary Duncan Greets a Member of the Audience

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan greets a member of the audience following a Q&A session at town hall meeting on the teaching profession.

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  • Secretary Duncan Works on his Remarks

    Education Secretary Arne Duncan works on his remarks as he travels between events on the "Education Drives America" bus tour.

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For the third year in a row, our team at the U.S. Department of Education has gone on a back-to-school bus tour. This year was more ambitious than ever. Senior leaders traveled from coast-to-coast and have participated in almost 100 events over the past 10 days.

It started on Sept. 12 with a town hall meeting about the potential of technology to transform learning in Redwood City, Calif., and ended with a rally at the Department of Education headquarters in Washington, DC. Across the country, I’ve seen examples of communities in Topeka, Kansas, and McDowell County, West Virginia, coming together to turn around struggling schools. I met with Hispanic students in Reno, Nevada, to discuss how a college degree will help ensure their economic prosperity. And I visited a school in Denver that takes nutrition and student health seriously. They even got me to dance.

The theme of this year bus tour has been “Education Drives America.” As the whirlwind of events ends, I’m more convinced than ever that Americans understand how important education is to America’s future and are working to ensure our children get the world-class education they deserve.


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Arne Duncan is the U.S. Secretary of Education
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