U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana will visit the state of Washington, Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 1-2. She will host a series of meetings to discuss teacher preparation programs under the Department’s “Blueprint for Reform: Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA);” the status of ESEA and the direction of the Administration; and to meet with teachers, students, district administrators, school board members and others.
At 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, the first day of school in Tacoma, Meléndez de Santa Ana will meet with students, teachers, other staff, school board members, district administrators and local elected officials for a discussion on the Administration’s education goals and reauthorization of ESEA. During her one-hour visit at Lincoln, she will tour the school and visit classrooms.
Here are additional details on her trip:
At 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the Puget Sound Educational Service District in Renton, Wash., Meléndez de Santa Ana will meet with university officials from the University of Washington-Tacoma, Evergreen University, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound to discuss the future of teacher preparation programs under a reauthorized ESEA. At 2 p.m., superintendents from the Puget Sound, Tacoma and Seattle areas will join her for a discussion on the ESEA reauthorization and ways in which the Department can better support districts in the state.
On Thursday, Sept. 2, after the visit to Lincoln High School, Meléndez de Santa Ana will travel to Clover Park High School for a 9:30 a.m. welcome back-to-school forum. She will welcome teachers, other staff and students to a new school year and discuss the Administration’s education priorities. Katie Taylor, one of the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Ambassador Fellows and an educator at Clover Park High, and Congressman Adam Smith will join Meléndez de Santa Ana.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1
EVENT 1
WHO:
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, assistant secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
University officials from local universities, including the University of Washington-Tacoma, Evergreen University, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound
WHAT:
Discussion on teacher preparation programs
WHERE:
Puget Sound Educational Service District
800 Oakesdale Ave., S.W.
Renton, Wash.
WHEN:
1 p.m. PDT Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010
EVENT 2
WHO:
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, assistant secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
Superintendents from various school districts in the state of Washington
WHAT:
Superintendents Forum
WHERE:
Puget Sound Educational Service District
800 Oakesdale Ave., S.W.
Renton, Wash.
WHEN:
2 p.m. PDT Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2010
THURSDAY, SEPT. 2
EVENT 1
WHO:
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, assistant secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn
Tacoma Superintendent Art Jarvis
President of the Tacoma Public School Board Debbie Winskill
Other superintendents, school board members, elected officials, community members, school officials, teachers and students
WHAT:
High school visit
WHERE:
Lincoln High School
701 S. 37th St.
Tacoma, Wash.
WHEN:
8 a.m. PDT Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010
EVENT 2
WHO:
Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, assistant secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education
Congressman Adam Smith
Teacher Ambassador Katie Taylor
Teachers and staff
WHAT:
Welcome back-to-school forum
WHERE:
Clover Park High School
11023 Gravelly Lake Dr., S.W.
Tacoma, Wash.
WHEN:
9:30 a.m. PDT Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010