Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden on How the Administration Is Helping to Keep Students Safe in Classrooms at Brookland Middle School
Washington, D.C.
How was your second week of school, Brookland? My class started this week, and I am so excited to be back in person. Principal Richardson, thank you for welcoming us here today.
Secretary Cardona, Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee, thank you for joining us as well.
For families across the country, the new school year always brings a mix of emotions. All at once, we feel the anticipation of new classmates and teachers.
The relief of not having to hear “I’m bored!” again and again.
The anxiety of juggling your family’s complicated schedule.
And that was before the uncertainties of COVID.
Now, a simple cough can start your heart racing. And you know that a quarantine could send your kids home and upend your life once again.
Parents, this is hard, but you’re doing your best—and I want you to know:
You’re not alone.
As a teacher for more than 30 years, and a mom, I’ve seen that classrooms are so much more than places where our children learn math and reading. We’ve all seen it: when our kids make friends that last for years, when they learn to settle disagreements or find the confidence to try out for sports teams and academic clubs.
Parents rely on schools, too, heading to our own jobs or pursuing our education, knowing that our kids are in an environment we trust.
That’s why I’m so grateful for the educators who helped us through the last year.
Cafeteria workers spent long hours making sandwiches for hungry families. Teachers retaught lessons at night for students who couldn’t use the family computer during the day, because maybe a sibling was on his or her class. Bus drivers drove wi-fi hotspots to neighborhoods with no connection. Counselors took call after call from parents in tears, just trying to juggle it all.
When families needed help the most, educators answered the call.
With all of my heart: Thank you for being the heroes we needed.
Today, our Administration is making sure that schools like Brookland have the resources and support they need to bring students back to class—where they belong. We’re going to be partner to you.
Because we can’t always know what the future holds, but we do know what we owe our children.
We owe them a promise to do all we can to keep their schools open and as safe as possible.
We owe them a commitment to follow the science.
We owe them unity—so we can fight the virus, not each other.
As we move forward, it’s going to take all of us—students and families, educators and local leaders, cities and states—coming together to make this school year the best it can be.
Joe puts students, their families, and educators at the heart of everything his Administration is doing to defeat and recover from this pandemic. And as a teacher myself, I couldn’t be more proud to stand beside him.
We are committed to working as hard for your children as you do.
Now, it’s my pleasure to introduce a young man who I know makes this school very proud. He’s a hardworking student, a friend, and the editor of your newspaper, The Brookland Buzz.
Please welcome, Elijah Poole.
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