Montgomery, Ala.  -  The country’s second highest ranking education official joined Congressman Mike Rogers on a visit to two Montgomery schools today, stopping off in the capital city to talk national education policy with local teachers and administrators and to visit and read with Alabama students.

Under Secretary of Education Dr. Eugene W. Hickok, a former professor and state secretary of education began his visit with Rogers at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School with an address to students on the school’s morning program, Good Morning BTW. Afterwards the education chief joined Rogers and BTW teachers for a roundtable discussion of the No Child Left Behind Act as it related to Alabama and to hear the concerns of local teachers and administrators.

“A quality education for every child is the backbone of our nation’s future,” Rogers said. “I appreciate Under Secretary Hickok for visiting Montgomery today and will continue to work with him in Washington to do everything I can to help strengthen our schools.”

Rogers said he invited Dr. Hickok to Alabama to provide local students, teachers and administrators an opportunity to discuss their concerns directly with him and a national education official. Rogers added he will continue to monitor closely any developments in Congress that could benefit Alabama schools.