LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s teacher of the year has skipped a White House ceremony to protest the Trump administration’s support of school choice policies.
Jessica Dueñas told the Courier Journal that she feels like the Trump administration is “clearly attacking public education,” so she decided not the attend Monday’s ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.
U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos attended the event and recognized the national teacher of the year. DeVos is a supporter of charter schools and private school vouchers. President Donald Trump did not attend.
Dueñas said she wanted to highlight the need to fully fund public schools.
She won teacher of the year in Kentucky for her work as a special educator in Oldham County. She’s currently a teacher in Jefferson County.
