A Bright Future Awaits: U.S. Education Secretary Visits Green Bay Elementary School
The picturesque city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was abuzz with excitement as the U.S. Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, paid a visit to Jackson Elementary school on Tuesday morning. The school's selection for this honor was no coincidence; it had achieved great success in utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan to promote multilingualism and provide essential support to its students.
As Secretary Cardona stepped off the bus, he was greeted by enthusiastic students, teachers, and administrators, all eager to showcase the school's remarkable progress. The event marked a significant milestone in the secretary's back-to-school bus tour, which aimed to highlight innovative approaches to education across the country.
Jackson Elementary had been chosen for its exceptional use of American Rescue Plan funds to promote multilingualism. This initiative had already yielded impressive results, with students making significant gains in reading and math. Secretary Cardona expressed his admiration for the school's dedication to providing a world-class education, stating,
‘I know in Wisconsin, they’ve already caught up to the pandemic loss in reading. They’re getting there with math, not quite there yet which makes it important we continue to support our public schools.'
As part of his visit, Secretary Cardona was able to witness firsthand the students' progress in learning a second language. He observed students reading from a book in both English and Spanish, a testament to the school's commitment to promoting multilingualism.
The benefits of such an initiative are multifaceted. By fostering linguistic diversity, schools like Jackson Elementary can provide their students with a unique advantage in an increasingly globalized world. As Secretary Cardona noted,
‘So, imagine how beneficial, what an advantage these kids are going to have when they leave elementary school knowing more than one language. That’s one of the things we really want to promote.'
In addition to supporting multilingualism, a portion of the grant also focused on addressing mental health needs within the school community. Secretary Cardona emphasized the importance of providing students with access to mental health support, stating,
‘Students are six times more likely to get support for mental health needs in schools than they are in the community. So, we want to make sure we’re not taking away from reading support to address mental health needs. We’re providing mental health support for our students.'
The visit was a significant event not only for Jackson Elementary but also for the entire Green Bay community. As Interim Superintendent Vicki Bayer noted,
‘Our Spanish speaking students in population is growing in Green Bay so to highlight some of the great things we’re doing to recognize that is fantastic.'
Secretary Cardona's visit was part of a broader effort to support public schools across the country. By highlighting innovative approaches like multilingualism and mental health support, he aimed to inspire other schools to adopt similar initiatives.
As the secretary concluded his visit and departed for his next destination, the students, teachers, and administrators at Jackson Elementary were left with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication to providing an exceptional education. Their story serves as a shining example of the impact that can be achieved when resources are invested in the right areas, and we can expect to see more schools following suit in the years to come.