U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will visit two Gary charter schools on Friday.
She is expected to visit Gary Middle College, 724 Washington St., and 21st Century Charter School, 556 Washington St., between 11:30 a.m. and 1:10 p.m., according to a release from the U.S. Department of Education.
The Gary stop is the second for DeVos on Friday, who is scheduled to make an appearance in Kansas City, Mo., earlier.
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After Gary, she is scheduled to go to the Hope Academy in Indianapolis before concluding her day at a Hancock County High School football game and hog roast.
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson confirmed in a text message to the Post-Tribune on Wednesday that she plans to be at 21st Century Charter School to greet DeVos.
Earlier this year, then-21st Century Charter School student Raven Osborne gained national attention after she graduated at the same time with a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree from Purdue University Northwest.
The trip is part of DeVos’ nationwide “Rethink School” tour, where DeVos aims to “showcase creative ways in which education leaders are meeting the needs of students in K-12 and higher education,” according to a press release.
A spokesman for Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick said late Wednesday via email that she will not be attending because of a scheduling conflict. Her chief of staff — Dr. Lee Ann Kwiatkowski — will attend in her place.
Kwiatkowski also sits on the fiscal management board advising the emergency management team now running the Gary Community School Corp.
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