TRIP TO WHITE HOUSE FOR HONORING OF TEACHERS & MENTORS

January 6, 2010

White House East Room

Washington, DC

Photos by Lady Simone

Article by Roxanne Lord

(Zen Media for Around Town Magazine)

President Obama honored over 80 of the best science and math teachers in America on a day that symbolizes hope. (Jan 6, Three Kings Day, Epiphany) The President's "EDUCATE TO INNOVATE" campaign was expanded today to more than half a billion dollars more coming from private funding and government initiatives as well as partnerships. Huge corporations like Intel and Dell paying key roles in supporting America's youth to do better in math and science.

Some of our nation's top minds were at this groundbreaking moment for education in America; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Secretary of Energy and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Steven Chu, NASA Administrator and former astronaut, Charles Bolden, the creators of the Internet, DARPA's director, Regine Dugan, Vice-President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden and a host of senators, members of Congress: Bart Gordon, Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee Democrat - Tennessee; William Lacy Clay Representative from the state of Missouri: George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee of California, and dignitaries from many states boasting some of the best teachers in the country.

The President spoke about Asia's commitment to education, as is evident by the fact that South Korea and China have no problem recruiting teachers because the teaching profession is revered in those nations and their compensation is comparable to the salaries of doctors.

"The nation that out-educates us today is going to out-compete us tomorrow," said President Obama. Our nation has a new goal when it comes to education; to move from the middle to the top of the pack in science and math education over the next decade. Particular attention will be paid to prepare, support, reward and retain good teachers.The Department of Education will be announcing an additional $10 million in grants for innovative programs to train new teachers. Moreover, a $4 billion Race to the Top fund, has been launched, which marks the largest investment in education reform in history in the United States.

The President calls for more states and school districts to start being more creative about attracting more science and math teachers. "Educate to Innovate" will continue to be a nationwide effort by citizens, non profits, universities and companies from across America to help us move to the top of the pack in math and science education.

PBS and the National Science Teachers Association will create new online platforms for teachers. Texas Instruments and Dell Foundation will work with the National Math and Science Initiative to prepare more math and science teachers in the next five years- through  a program allowing young people to earn teaching certificates and science degrees simultaneously. In addition, presidents from more than seventy five of the largest public universities in the country have committed to producing thousands of additional science and math teachers at their institutions. The Woodrow Wilson National fellowship foundation is expanding with the help of several states and non profits to place more math and science teachers in more high-need school districts. Intel, not to be outdone, is launching a 10 year $200 million campaign to train math and science teachers in all 50 states. The Recovery Act has combined the largest investment in education while preventing more than 300,000 teachers and school workers from being fired because of shortfalls in state budgets.

The honorees, the teachers and mentors, were absolutely honored to be invited to the White House and to acknowledged and thanked by the President of the USA himself, for the great work that they are doing for society. They are all enthused and encouraged by the additional funding as well, since it will allow them to be rewarded for doing the best job they can possibly do to teach this country's young minds.