“Looking back at my own childhood, I saw how important it was for me to mentor young girls in particular. I didn’t have any of that myself. I believe that God has destined me for this role, and that belief drives me every single day.”
In just the last three weeks of this new year, there have been 40 shootings. There were 647 mass shootings in 2022 alone. Firearms are now the No. 1 cause of death among American children.
To deliver transformational change, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urged everyone to act boldly and unapologetically to address student underperformance and decades of underinvestment.
“I love the enthusiasm and passion for education from everyone here,” said Dr. Nia Woods Haydel. “They all want the best for their staff and students, and it’s rejuvenating how excited everyone is.”
The Initiative will help communities utilize American Rescue Plan funds alongside other state and local funds to ensure every child who wants a spot in a high-quality out-of-school time (OST) program has one.