On Tuesday, September 5, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona launched the U.S. Department of Education's “Back-to-School Bus Tour 2023: Raise the Bar” with stops in Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Throughout the week, Secretary Cardona, Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten, and Undersecretary James Kvaal will join national, state, and local leaders to speak with students, parents, and educators for events that celebrate the back-to-school season.

Derby Public Schools is proud to have been the first stop for Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten's tour. While visiting Wineteer Elementary School, she first had the opportunity to meet and learn from military-connected families during a roundtable discussion including hearing about the Purple Star Designation and Military Family Counselor Support. Following this discussion, she toured the school to see early learning classrooms, experienced unique programming made possible through MCASP grant funding, and helped welcome students to school at the entered for the day along with members of the military, Derby High School AFJROTC, McConnell AFB School Liaison Gregory Martin, members of our Board of Education, State Board of Education and City of Derby Mayor.

Purple Star Designation
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