Author Archives: Massie Ritsch

StoryCorps Project Honors America’s Teachers

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Massie Ritsch

If you could tell your favorite teacher what influence he or she has had on your life, what would you say? And if you are, or ever have been, a teacher, what would you say to a student who made … Continue reading →

Posted in Headlines, News, Teachers, Teaching Profession, What We Heard | Tagged | Comments Off

Red Jackets On, City Year Supports At-Risk Students

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Massie Ritsch

CLEVELAND-You know them immediately by their red coats. And their enthusiasm. They are City Year corps members-young Americans who serve for a year in urban communities throughout the country, including in Cleveland and its public schools. On Wednesday afternoon, City … Continue reading →

Posted in Back to School Tour 2011, Headlines, Innovation, News, Schools and Community | Tagged | 2 Comments

Cleveland-area Superintendents Talk Back to Washington

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Massie Ritsch

CLEVELAND—After a morning spent with students promoting school nutrition and physical education, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Michael Yudin sat down Tuesday afternoon with superintendents from more than a dozen school districts in the Cleveland metropolitan area, … Continue reading →

Posted in Back to School Tour 2011, ESEA Reauthorization, Headlines, News, P-12 Reform, Turnaround Schools | 9 Comments

Cleveland Middle School Helps Put ED Tour in Motion

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Massie Ritsch

SOLON, Ohio—For a back-to-school sprint through the Great Lakes region, it just seemed to make sense to warm up with a little physical activity. So that’s what Michael Yudin, the Department’s acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, did … Continue reading →

Posted in Back to School Tour 2011, Fueled and Fit, Headlines, News | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Principal Breaks Out the Champaign

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Massie Ritsch

The teachers and staff at Franklin Middle School in Champaign, Ill., have a saying: “Don’t be deficit.” It’s not a school-wide statement about out-of-balance government spending; their slogan is a reminder not to shortchange students based on their backgrounds or … Continue reading →

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Uninsured Children: An Education Challenge

Posted on September 7, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

If there were millions of children in America whose families didn’t know they could enroll in school, we’d feel an urgent need to get the message out them, wouldn’t we? Continue reading →

Posted in Early Learning, Fueled and Fit, News, Photos | Comments Off

Students Quiz Secretary

Posted on September 3, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

Secretary Duncan took questions from high school students on the Sept. 2 edition of NPR’s “Talk of the Nation.” Continue reading →

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Central High Student Keeps His Eyes on the Prize

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

The students we met along the Courage in the Classroom Tour showed great commitment to their own educations. Meet one of them. Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Back To School Tour, College Completion, News, Photos | Comments Off

Brown Bag Lunch

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

HATTIESBURG, Miss.–Teachers often have to squeeze lunch into their busy days, so we were honored that a group of educators from Hattiesburg’s public schools took time Friday to have a sandwich with Arne on the high school campus. The conversation … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Back To School Tour, News | Comments Off

Freedom School Program Jackson State

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

The bus tour stopped at Jackson State University to visit the Kids Kollege Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School after-school program. Watch the video. Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Back To School Tour, News, Photos | Comments Off

Voices of Courage: Dr. Tom Burnham

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

We’ve been fortunate on the Courage in the Classroom tour to have a number of state-level leaders join us along the way. On Thursday the state education commissioner of Arkansas, Dr. Tom Kimbrell, and the state superintendent in Louisiana, Paul … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Back To School Tour, News | Comments Off

Secretary Dunkin’

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Massie Ritsch

After a day of events in Arkansas and Louisiana, Secretary Duncan changed out of his suit and tie for a basketball scrimmage with the Madison High School Jaguars in Tallulah. Watch the video. Continue reading →

Posted in 2010 Back To School Tour, News, Photos | Comments Off