U.S. Secretary of Betsy DeVos took a six-state “Rethink Education” tour the week of Sept. 11 to kick off the school year, aiming to spotlight promising education approaches, mainly focused on K-12 but with a stopover at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. The tour took her to Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and, finally, Indiana, where she met with students recovering from drug addiction and attended a Friday night high school football game.
In an interview with Education Week at the close of the tour, DeVos talked about what’s next for school choice, implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act, her department’s approach to civil rights protections, and much more.
Here are some of the visual highlights from DeVos’ tour:
Lt. Gen Jay B. Silveria talks with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos as they walk past Cadet Chapel during her visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. –Dougal Brownlie/The Gazette via AP
DeVos visits a coding class in Omaha, Neb., during a visit to the Midland University-Omaha Campus. –Nati Harnik/AP
The education secretary reads to kindergartners at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Lincoln, Neb. –Eric Gregory/The Journal-Star via AP
Protesters decry Devos’ support of charter schools and vouchers, marching to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Lincoln, Neb., as DeVos visited the Lincoln school system’s Science Focus Program/Zoo School. –Ted Kirk/The Journal-Star via AP
Zoo School students wearing “I Love Public Schools” T-shirts meet with the secretary during her tour. –Nati Harnik/AP
Accompanied by principal Anthony Cherry, DeVos is greeted by students at the 21st Century Charter School in Gary, Ind. –John J. Watkins/The Times via AP
DeVos cheers with Eastern Hancock students during a high school football game between Eastern Hancock and rival Knightstown in Charlottesville, Ind. –Darron Cummings/AP