U.S. education secretary lauds visits Aviation High; lauds school
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan had nothing but lavish praise Friday for Aviation High School, the Des Moines school in the shadow of the Sea-Tac flight path where the students learn science and math concepts with hands-on projects.
Seattle Times Eastside reporter
KEN LAMBERT / THE SEATTLE TIMES
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Democratic Sen. Patty Murray attend an event Friday at Aviation High School in Des Moines. Duncan took part in a panel discussion about math and science. "This is an amazing example of what's possible in public education," Duncan said.
He only got to see the school after classes were out for summer, but U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan had nothing but lavish praise Friday for Aviation High School, the Des Moines school in the shadow of the Sea-Tac flight path where all the kids learn science and math concepts with hands-on projects.
"Everybody knows you're on to something extraordinary," Duncan said. "This is an amazing example of what's possible in public education."
Duncan, accompanied by Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, got to drive a soccer-playing robot built by Skunkworks, the school's 40-member robotics team. He quizzed students about their education, took part in a panel discussion about math and science, shook hands and posed for pictures.
The audience of about 200 that gathered in a sweltering school gymnasium was like a who's who of public-education professionals in the state, including union leaders and state education-board members.
State Superintendent Randy Dorn hopes that Duncan's decision to visit Washington is a sign that this state has a shot at getting money from Race to the Top, the Obama administration's school-grant plan that offers
