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Miguel Cardona, U.S. Education Secretary, visited eastern Kentucky on Jan. 19 to tout career-oriented classrooms and a series of grants that helped make them possible.
Cardona discussed recent grants the area received from the Promise Neighborhoods and Project Prevent programs to help reduce community violence and promote cradle-to-career efforts in low-income areas.
“What I saw here today is an example that I want to spread across the country: how to use resources; how to come together,” he said.
Partners for Rural Impact received $8 million in Promise Neighborhoods grant money to help improve education. Two school districts received Project Prevent grants: Allen County Schools received $800,000 and Jefferson County Schools received $588,802.
One of Cardona’s stops was at Perry County High School, one of the schools supported by Partners for Rural Impact, where Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass joined him to tour classes.
Cardona spoke to several students about how Kentucky schools are preparing them for their future careers. His visit culminated with a roundtable discussion with parents and educators about programs that help prepare students for careers.
“That feeling that my kids are good, my kids are cared for, that was present in the classrooms and in the conversations with parents,” Cardona said. “Every parent wants the best for their child, and when the community comes together like they have here in Hazard, that’s possible.”
Cardona also visited Roy G. Eversole Elementary School (Hazard Independent) with Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman to tour the early childhood education center and speak with parents.
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