Speeches

Leading from the Superintendent's Office: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks at the American Association of School Administrators Conference

Thank you. During the seven-and-a-half years I was CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, I sometimes got the question: "Why in the world would you ever want to be a school superintendent?"

Remarks of Dr. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana to the National Association for Bilingual Education

Thank you for inviting me to address this group of valued colleagues and champions—it is wonderful to be here among so many people committed to guaranteeing an excellent education for every child in America.

Investing in Education: Secretary Arne Duncan's Remarks to the National School Boards Association

It's been a little more than a year since the President took the oath of office and I became secretary of education.

Under Secretary Martha Kanter's Remarks at the Association of American Colleges and Universities Annual Meeting

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today. I have been in my job in Washington for a little over six months now, and I've been privileged to get to know many of you and to learn about and recognize in many of our national conversations the extraordinary work of AAC&U.

Building a Better Front Porch for Higher Education

Thank you. Please stand to pay a special tribute to the wife and son of Myles Brand, who are here today. Myles Brand was a remarkable leader who was unafraid of controversy.

Lawmakers Who Lead

Thank you for that kind introduction. I welcome this opportunity to address state lawmakers. For too long, you have been the leading yet underappreciated stewards of education reform. It is sometimes said that governors get the headlines and legislators get the headaches. There is a lot of truth to that.

The Early Learning Challenge: Raising the Bar

Thank you for that kind introduction. It is a special pleasure and opportunity for me to meet and speak with so many early childhood educators, advocates, and researchers. More than a half century ago, Franklin Roosevelt said that the "destiny of American youth is the destiny of America." Each and every day you help to fulfill that destiny.

The Promise of Promise Neighborhoods: Beyond Good Intentions

Thank you so much for the generous introduction. It's a pleasure and honor to be addressing this conference of the Harlem Children's Zone. HCZ, and its founder and extraordinary leader, Geoff Canada, have produced one of the most remarkable anti-poverty community programs in the nation's history.

Economic Security and a 21st Century Education

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to discuss the state of American education—which in some ways is one and the same with the American economy.

I believe that the quality of our education system says as much about the long-term health of our economy as the stock market, the unemployment rate and the size of the gross domestic product.

Under Secretary Martha Kanter’s Remarks to the New England Board of Education

I am thrilled to be here to speak to the New England Board of Higher Education. Most of you here today share my priorities and I believe that together we will be able to meet the many challenges we face in today’s economy.

First, I would like to start with the story of how I got my present job at the U.S. Department of Education.