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President Announces Goal of Recruiting 10K STEM Teachers Over Next Two Years

White House Press Release

Today, President Barack Obama announced a new goal of recruiting 10,000 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teachers over the next two years.

This announcement will move the country forward on the Obama Administration’s ambitious goal of preparing 100,000 STEM teachers over the next decade.

“When I came into office, I set a goal of moving our nation from the middle to the top of the pack in math and science education", said President Obama. "Strengthening STEM education is vital to preparing our students to compete in the 21st century economy and we need to recruit and train math and science teachers to support our nation’s students.”

As America’s students lag in math and science when compared to peers around the world, President Obama has made improving STEM education one of his top priorities.

President Obama has identified three overarching priorities for STEM education, necessary for laying a new foundation for America’s future prosperity that includes increasing STEM literacy so all students can think critically in science, math, engineering and technology; improving the quality of math and science teaching so American students are no longer outperformed by those in other nations; and expanding STEM education and career opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and minorities.

(End of release)
 
The news should bode well with many states including the District of Columbia.
 
On the web site of the District's mayor-elect, Vincent Gray, it states he his [...committed to bringing outstanding, cutting edge programs --International Baccalaureate programs, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), total immersion language programs into our schools...].

Gray beat one-term mayor Adrian Fenty who was strongly criticized for his role in allowing school chancellor Michelle Rhee fire over 200 teachers last year.

Ironically, President Obama said in an NBC interview earlier today, "The DC public schools systems are struggling," but have, "made some important strides over the last several years to move in the direction of reform."

Obama said his girls couldn't get the same quality education at a Washington, D.C. public school that they currently get at their private school.

The president's interview kicked off a three-day summit hosted by NBC called “Education Nation” focusing on the state of America's education today.

Vice First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, an educator at a Northern Virginia university, said in her remarks before a Higher Education Panel today in New York that the Obama administration "believes that higher education is critical to strengthening the American workforce.  In a global economy, it is no secret that the nation that out-educates us today will out-compete us tomorrow. 

"So, President Obama has set the goal for the United States that we will once again lead the world in the proportion of college graduates by the end of this decade", added Biden.

Biden called the president's goal "not a Democratic or a Republican goal, but rather "a goal that recognizes the hopes and potential of every American."

The administration is joined in its efforts by leaders in government, education, business and philanthropy including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Melinda Gates, Co-Chair and Trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, William Green, the Chairman and CEO of Accenture, and Eduardo Padron, President of Miami Dade College who joined the Vice First Lady today.

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