U.S. Education Secretary greets Federation members

LFT President Steve Monaghan, Monroe Federation of Teachers and School Employees President Sandie Lollie and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Travelling through Louisiana on an eight-state tour to celebrate America's public school teachers, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan visited with members of the Monroe Federation of Teachers and School Employees at their back-to-school membership meeting.

Duncan, who was in Monroe to check out a program at the city's J.S. Clark Elementary School, accepted an invitation from MFT/SE President Sandie Lollie to meet educators at the union meeting.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, LFT President Steve Monaghan, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, East Baton Rouge Federation of Teachers President Carnell Washington and Jefferson Federation of Teachers President Meladie Munch.

As you can see from the YouTube video released by the Education Department, the secretary was impressed by the energy and dedication of teachers and school employees.

“I want to say a huge thank you for what you’re doing for the state’s children,” Duncan told the Federation members. “We’re fighting a daily battle for our children’s lives. Some form of higher education has to be the goal for all of our children.”

“Teachers are the unsung heroes in our society,” Duncan continued. “We can’t do enough to celebrate them. We need to take the focus off athletes and movie stars and put the focus on education.”