Senator Clinton Joins NEA's 'School House to the White House'

Waterloo, IA, school and NEA help candidate get picture of what school is really like

On Monday, November 19, New York Senator Hillary Clinton visited students and school staff at the Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence in Waterloo, IA. With the stop, the Democratic presidential hopeful became the third candidate to participate in NEA's "School House to the White House" initiative, designed to help candidates understand the realities of teaching and learning in America's public schools.

Photo by David Lienemann

NEA's "School House to the White House" initiative provides presidential candidates with a firsthand, on-the-ground perspective of the challenges — and triumphs — the nation's public schools experience every day. Every viable presidential candidate from both parties has been invited to participate. Sen. John Edwards and Gov. Bill Richardson  participated in NEA "School House to the White House" events in October in New Hampshire.

The Cunningham School for Excellence is a trailblazing elementary school with students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Ninety percent of the school's 400 students receive free or reduced-price lunch. But thanks to innovative programs like the school's limited use of same-gender classes, the school continues to reach federally mandated academic goals.

Clinton helped deliver a reading lesson to 5th graders in the class of Shayla Stevenson and then spent time with 2nd and 3rd grade girls from the classes of Amy Schmidt and Kathy Vogel.

The Senator then held a private, non-press conversation with NEA members from throughout the Waterloo Community School District as well as local school board members and school district administrators.

To view footage from NEA "School House to the White House" events ,visit http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EducationVotes