
My father knew that schools save lives. And though he never could have imagined it then, I sit here decades later as living proof that he was right. Like my parents; like the President and First Lady; like all of you, I believe that education is at the heart of our promise of equality of opportunity for all Americans.
We know — and I know personally, because I lived it — the importance of great teachers. That’s why one of my highest priorities as education secretary would be to lift up the teaching profession, and find more ways to celebrate, support, and sustain our nation’s educators.