School Administrators Commend President-Elect Obama’s Selection of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education

Washington, DC, December 19, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Jill S. Levy, President of the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), released the following statement in response to President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education:

“AFSA is pleased with President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of Chicago schools executive Arne Duncan as the new Secretary of Education. As the Chicago Schools’ Superintendent, Arne Duncan led several key initiatives, including increased recruitment and training of school principals and assistant principals, expansion of early childhood education, and strengthening of math and science education to better equip students to meet the many challenges of a competitive global environment. We are also pleased that the new Secretary will have important access to the President and has proven himself as an excellent administrator. Of course, we hope unions representing principals and other supervisors who are charged with leading and transforming our schools will have greater communication and collaboration with the Department of Education, and are optimistic that Arne Duncan will clearly understand that need. Ultimately, teachers in the classroom touch the lives of our students, but school principals and assistant principals set the tone and create the climate for safe and secure environments, a culture of adult and child learning and the stability required in our communities’ schools. AFSA members commend the President-elect on his thoughtful nomination and wish Arne Duncan much luck in his prospective role as Secretary of Education”.

Author, Jill S. Levy, International President-AFSA is the national union of education leaders, representing over 20,000 school principals, assistant principals, supervisors and education professionals throughout the nation, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

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