

Rockford, IL ā U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona joined Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17), National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle, and other local leaders to tour Beyer Early Childhood Center and highlight efforts to support kindergarten programming.Ā
āI want to thank Secretary Cardona for coming to visit Rockford and help welcome our students, parents, teachers, staff, and administrators back to school,ā said Sorensen. āWe know that early childhood education is one of the most critical investments we can make to level the playing field for our kids and put them on a path to success. I will always work to make sure our children, teachers, staff, and volunteers in Central and Northwestern Illinois have the resources they need to be successful.āĀ Ā
āWe know a strong start in education makes a big difference. As a teacher, a former school administrator, and as a parent, Iāve seen it for myself. I was pleased to visit Beyer Early Childhood Center in Rockford with Representative Eric Sorensen and National Education Association President Becky Pringle to visit an incredible early learning program here and talk about why early childhood is so critical to raising the bar for education in this country,ā said Secretary Cardona.Ā
Secretary Cardona and Congressman Sorensen met with local leaders and school officials at Beyer Early Childhood Center to highlight the importance of early education and bring attention to their efforts to support access to high-quality education.Ā
This visit comes as part of Secretary Cardonaās 2023 āBack to School Bus Tour,ā where heās showcasing how schools and communities are improving educational opportunities for kids across the nation.Ā
Following the visit, Congressman Eric Sorensen and NEA President Pringle hosted a town hall event with NEA members, where they discussed ways to better support teachers, invest in public schools, and provide resources to students struggling with their mental health.Ā
Congressman Eric Sorensen is the first openly LGBTQ person elected to represent Illinois at the federal level and is a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to serving in Congress, Sorensen was a local meteorologist in Rockford and the Quad Cities for nearly 20 years. His district includes Illinoisā Quad Cities, Rockford, Peoria, and Bloomington-Normal.