U.S. Secretary of Education visits students in Jackson

Following a tour of Casey Elementary School, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona met with parents at Casey to discuss after-school programs. He then hosted a roundtable with education majors at Jackson State University.

After his meeting with students, Cardona addressed the teacher attrition crisis throughout the country, saying that he was working with state leaders and governors to create better working conditions for educators.

"We pay 9% of education budgets, so it's really upon the state to come up with a plan to make sure that they're preparing not only for the teachers in our K-12 schools, but helping prepare for the workforce needs that are coming," he said. "I don't want Mississippi to be left behind with the jobs that are coming, but you're not gonna be preparing folks for jobs if you don't have teachers to teach the students."

Cardona asked those at his roundtable about what inspired them to be educators, as well as what the feds can do better to support HBCUs. When discussing Mississippi's teacher shortage, Cardona said that salaries the state are particularly problematic.

"We want to make sure that well trained Mississippi teachers stay in Mississippi," he said. "Teachers shouldn't be working on weekends to make ends meet, in order to stay in that profession."

Cardona also touched on programs funded by the American Rescue Plan and teacher pipeline programs.