WEST GREENWICH, RI – Today, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Exeter-West Greenwich Regional Junior High School and High School in West Greenwich, Rhode Island in support of both the Department’s History Rocks! Trail to Independence tour and her Returning Education to the States tour. The History Rocks! tour is a nationwide effort to highlight innovative approaches to teaching U.S. history ahead of our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. On her Returning Education to the States tour, Secretary McMahon is visiting all fifty states to hear from students, teachers, and leaders about best educational practices in their own communities.
Secretary McMahon began the visit by touring the junior high school in support of the History Rocks! initiatives, visiting history and civics classrooms with students as they explored the origins of our nation and the principles that shaped America’s founding. Secretary McMahon then visited the high school in support of her Returning Education to the States Tour where she toured engineering and career and technical education (CTE) classrooms and participated in a roundtable to identify ways the school is preparing students for the workforce.
“As the first colony to declare independence, Rhode Island offers students a direct connection with America's founding,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “It was inspiring to visit Exeter-West Greenwich Regional Junior High and High School today to see ways the school is teaching the next generation of Americans about our history and civic foundations and preparing them for the evolving needs of the workforce. With hands-on learning and an appreciated understanding of our nation’s principles, these students are set up for a promising future.”
Background
The History Rocks! initiative is a key component of the U.S. Department of Education’s America 250 celebrations, coordinated with the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, a national partnership with the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 50 national and state organizations. This coalition is dedicated to advancing civic education and expanding opportunities for students to learn about the ideas, individuals, and events that define the American story. Secretary McMahon, Administration officials, and education leaders will visit schools in all 50 states to showcase examples of high-quality history and civics instruction that bring American principles to life.
Learn more about the Department’s America 250 initiatives here.
In collaboration with the White House Task Force 250 and federal agencies, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership aligning national and local efforts to commemorate this historic year.
Learn more about Freedom 250 here.
On her Returning Education to the States Tour, Secretary McMahon is traveling to all 50 states to hear directly from teachers, parents, and community leaders about what is working in their communities for their students and compile a toolkit of best practices to distribute to states.
Learn more about Secretary McMahon’s Returning Education to the States tour here.