Senator Hillary Clinton Enters the Race for President With a Weekend Visit to Iowa

On Saturday, January 27th labor leaders from Iowa gathered for a "closed to the public" breakfast at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in a chance to meet with United States Senator Hillary Clinton (NY) as she opened her campaign for President of the United States. There were approximately 50 leaders from organized labor that heard from Senator Clinton that she is "in it to win it".

As Senator Clinton entered the room, she shook hands and greeted each guest individually. When she arrived at our side of the table I asked her to autograph my copy of Duck for President by Doreen Cronin, author and illustrator. (I've had a number of presidential candidates sign my book!). Pictured with me is ISEA lobbyist Jon Studer as Senator Clinton inscribes her message in the book. As Senator Clinton wrote a message, I did have the opportunity to ask for her help as a United States Senator in the reauthorization of the ESEA/NCLB act. I spoke of the need for flexibility in testing (a one-sized-fits-all test shouldn't be the only measure we use to check for understanding); that we need to look at a growth model, where students are followed from year to year--then measure their growth; as well as funding. I asked her as candidate for president to project the voices of educators and their stories to a national level as we work for meaningful changes to the law. Senator Clinton was very receptive and does recognize that changes are needed as Congress moves towards reauthorization of ESEA/NCLB.

Following her conversation with Iowa's labor leaders, Senator Clinton posed for a photo with a member of Team ISEA, Mary Studer. Mary is a 5th grade teacher at Brubaker Elementary in Des Moines (spouse of Team ISEA lobbyist, Jon Studer) and a member of the Des Moines Education Associaton. Thanks Mary for the great work you do every day for the students at Brubaker Elementary!