yes I have over 300,000 children well I do we all do
do we all do
do we all do I have children of every race and
I have children of every race and
I have children of every race and children that speak different languages
children that speak different languages
children that speak different languages and I have children with special needs
and I have children with special needs
and I have children with special needs and I have children with amazing gifts
and I have children with amazing gifts
and I have children with amazing gifts frankly these children are our
frankly these children are our
frankly these children are our responsibility when I was named
responsibility when I was named
responsibility when I was named Commissioner of Education I thought oh
Commissioner of Education I thought oh
Commissioner of Education I thought oh my goodness this job is way too big you
my goodness this job is way too big you
my goodness this job is way too big you know oh so daunting
know oh so daunting
know oh so daunting I thought certainly certainly I’ll have
I thought certainly certainly I’ll have
I thought certainly certainly I’ll have this epiphany of where I need to go and
this epiphany of where I need to go and
this epiphany of where I need to go and get this job accomplished I’m a proud
get this job accomplished I’m a proud
get this job accomplished I’m a proud Nebraskan proud Nebraska but I’m
Nebraskan proud Nebraska but I’m
Nebraskan proud Nebraska but I’m especially proud to be the commissioner
especially proud to be the commissioner
especially proud to be the commissioner of education in this great state to be
of education in this great state to be
of education in this great state to be cliche there is no place like Nebraska
cliche there is no place like Nebraska
cliche there is no place like Nebraska we understand common sense Nebraska
we understand common sense Nebraska
we understand common sense Nebraska sometimes was perceived by those outside
sometimes was perceived by those outside
sometimes was perceived by those outside of this place as perhaps flyover country
of this place as perhaps flyover country
of this place as perhaps flyover country or something that that really doesn’t
or something that that really doesn’t
or something that that really doesn’t have anything to offer but Nebraska
have anything to offer but Nebraska
have anything to offer but Nebraska because it’s my home I know it’s a place
because it’s my home I know it’s a place
because it’s my home I know it’s a place of significant historical importance
of significant historical importance
of significant historical importance both nationally across the world even
both nationally across the world even
both nationally across the world even and frankly even though Nebraska was
and frankly even though Nebraska was
and frankly even though Nebraska was once our country’s frontier where
once our country’s frontier where
once our country’s frontier where sometimes people traveled through here
sometimes people traveled through here
sometimes people traveled through here on their place to somewhere else those
on their place to somewhere else those
on their place to somewhere else those who traveled through here on occasion
who traveled through here on occasion
who traveled through here on occasion left us with nuggets of wisdom and those
left us with nuggets of wisdom and those
left us with nuggets of wisdom and those who decided to stay here are extremely
who decided to stay here are extremely
who decided to stay here are extremely special our reality is that we have this
special our reality is that we have this
special our reality is that we have this opportunity in Nebraska’s it’ll reflect
opportunity in Nebraska’s it’ll reflect
opportunity in Nebraska’s it’ll reflect on where we’ve been I want to tell you
on where we’ve been I want to tell you
on where we’ve been I want to tell you just a little bit of a story in 1964
just a little bit of a story in 1964
just a little bit of a story in 1964 December 30th 1964 Martin Luther King
December 30th 1964 Martin Luther King
December 30th 1964 Martin Luther King jr. spoke at Pershing auditorium he
jr. spoke at Pershing auditorium he
jr. spoke at Pershing auditorium he spoke there just six months after the
spoke there just six months after the
spoke there just six months after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights
passage of the 1964 Civil Rights
passage of the 1964 Civil Rights i sacked you saw Selma the reality is
i sacked you saw Selma the reality is
i sacked you saw Selma the reality is it’s only a few months before the 1965
it’s only a few months before the 1965
it’s only a few months before the 1965 passage of the Elementary and Secondary
passage of the Elementary and Secondary
passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and ultimately these are
Education Act and ultimately these are
Education Act and ultimately these are landmarks in civil rights law for the
landmarks in civil rights law for the
landmarks in civil rights law for the country now when dr. King was here he
country now when dr. King was here he
country now when dr. King was here he spoke in part these words one of the
spoke in part these words one of the
spoke in part these words one of the great liabilities of history is that all
great liabilities of history is that all
great liabilities of history is that all too many people find themselves standing
too many people find themselves standing
too many people find themselves standing amid a great period of social change and
amid a great period of social change and
amid a great period of social change and yet they failed to achieve the new
yet they failed to achieve the new
yet they failed to achieve the new attitudes the new thought patterns the
attitudes the new thought patterns the
attitudes the new thought patterns the new mental outlooks that the new
new mental outlooks that the new
new mental outlooks that the new situation demands Nebraska has always
situation demands Nebraska has always
situation demands Nebraska has always been about the future the long view of
been about the future the long view of
been about the future the long view of things you know frankly we’re in that
things you know frankly we’re in that
things you know frankly we’re in that position where we have that independence
position where we have that independence
position where we have that independence Street you know but we’re not backwards
Street you know but we’re not backwards
Street you know but we’re not backwards we’re not backwards at all instead we
we’re not backwards at all instead we
we’re not backwards at all instead we have a tendency to want to do things the
have a tendency to want to do things the
have a tendency to want to do things the right way
right way
right way sometimes methodically and ensure that
sometimes methodically and ensure that
sometimes methodically and ensure that we move forward to get what’s best for
we move forward to get what’s best for
we move forward to get what’s best for our next generations in the 1950s
our next generations in the 1950s
our next generations in the 1950s Nebraska actually passed special a
Nebraska actually passed special a
Nebraska actually passed special a special education system two and a half
special education system two and a half
special education system two and a half decades before it was required by the
decades before it was required by the
decades before it was required by the federal government with the individuals
federal government with the individuals
federal government with the individuals with Disabilities Education Act two and
with Disabilities Education Act two and
with Disabilities Education Act two and a half decades before when we’re left
a half decades before when we’re left
a half decades before when we’re left her own devices we can think that far
her own devices we can think that far
her own devices we can think that far ahead
ahead
ahead we’ve always cared about balancing the
we’ve always cared about balancing the
we’ve always cared about balancing the responsibilities of state and federal we
responsibilities of state and federal we
responsibilities of state and federal we always have to constantly remind
always have to constantly remind
always have to constantly remind ourselves that we do not adopt things in
ourselves that we do not adopt things in
ourselves that we do not adopt things in a cookie cutter approach from other
a cookie cutter approach from other
a cookie cutter approach from other places just because certain people
places just because certain people
places just because certain people arrive in the state of Nebraska no
arrive in the state of Nebraska no
arrive in the state of Nebraska no applause on that one our education
applause on that one our education
applause on that one our education system is one of the most intentionally
system is one of the most intentionally
system is one of the most intentionally local systems in the country and perhaps
local systems in the country and perhaps
local systems in the country and perhaps the world we struggled for generations
the world we struggled for generations
the world we struggled for generations to really keep it that way to make it
to really keep it that way to make it
to really keep it that way to make it our system you don’t we don’t ignore the
our system you don’t we don’t ignore the
our system you don’t we don’t ignore the responsibility to find our path to
responsibility to find our path to
responsibility to find our path to improve increasingly that looks like the
improve increasingly that looks like the
improve increasingly that looks like the right decision in modern times we didn’t
right decision in modern times we didn’t
right decision in modern times we didn’t jump on that bandwagon for for common
jump on that bandwagon for for common
jump on that bandwagon for for common core standards why when all these other
core standards why when all these other
core standards why when all these other State student why didn’t we do that
State student why didn’t we do that
State student why didn’t we do that because we refuse to abdicate our right
because we refuse to abdicate our right
because we refuse to abdicate our right to set the expectations for our students
to set the expectations for our students
to set the expectations for our students in our classrooms on a daily basis
in our classrooms on a daily basis
in our classrooms on a daily basis that’s absolutely critical for anything
we understand that making decisions at
we understand that making decisions at the closest level to the student makes
the closest level to the student makes
the closest level to the student makes all of the difference and then when we
all of the difference and then when we
all of the difference and then when we allow that to happen and we allow that
allow that to happen and we allow that
allow that to happen and we allow that to happen with people that care about
to happen with people that care about
to happen with people that care about them at that closest level that makes a
them at that closest level that makes a
them at that closest level that makes a significant difference to our students
significant difference to our students
significant difference to our students we care about equity and access and
we care about equity and access and
we care about equity and access and that’s our job at the Department of
that’s our job at the Department of
that’s our job at the Department of Education to be able to accomplish that
Education to be able to accomplish that
Education to be able to accomplish that for education reform it should be clear
for education reform it should be clear
for education reform it should be clear that the moral imperative focuses on
that the moral imperative focuses on
that the moral imperative focuses on raising the bar and closing the gap in
raising the bar and closing the gap in
raising the bar and closing the gap in student learning and achievement for all
student learning and achievement for all
student learning and achievement for all children regardless of background if we
children regardless of background if we
children regardless of background if we know we have achievement gaps we have to
know we have achievement gaps we have to
know we have achievement gaps we have to do everything that we can we have to
do everything that we can we have to
do everything that we can we have to lock arm and arm to actually help
lock arm and arm to actually help
lock arm and arm to actually help students parents families and schools
students parents families and schools
students parents families and schools close those achievement gaps however it
close those achievement gaps however it
close those achievement gaps however it can’t be done or accomplished in schools
can’t be done or accomplished in schools
can’t be done or accomplished in schools alone it takes all of us it takes
alone it takes all of us it takes
alone it takes all of us it takes communities and smart investment by the
communities and smart investment by the
communities and smart investment by the state of Nebraska to make that
state of Nebraska to make that
state of Nebraska to make that difference this is really true in our
difference this is really true in our
difference this is really true in our efforts in education right now across
efforts in education right now across
efforts in education right now across the state of Nebraska we’re working very
the state of Nebraska we’re working very
the state of Nebraska we’re working very hard and I feel a significant sense of
hard and I feel a significant sense of
hard and I feel a significant sense of urgency to make sure that we’re closing
urgency to make sure that we’re closing
urgency to make sure that we’re closing gaps for all of our students regardless
gaps for all of our students regardless
gaps for all of our students regardless of their background
of their background
of their background that’s our moral imperative but as we
that’s our moral imperative but as we
that’s our moral imperative but as we examine the data and you can see here
examine the data and you can see here
examine the data and you can see here our african-american students and our
our african-american students and our
our african-american students and our Native American students and many others
Native American students and many others
Native American students and many others deserve better we have to continue to
deserve better we have to continue to
deserve better we have to continue to examine that data look at that that
examine that data look at that that
examine that data look at that that importance of that moral imperative and
importance of that moral imperative and
importance of that moral imperative and move our future populations forward our
move our future populations forward our
move our future populations forward our future populations by the way won’t look
future populations by the way won’t look
future populations by the way won’t look like they do today in the future we’ll
like they do today in the future we’ll
like they do today in the future we’ll have students from varying backgrounds
have students from varying backgrounds
have students from varying backgrounds and that will continue to be nearly our
and that will continue to be nearly our
and that will continue to be nearly our majority of our students that we serve
majority of our students that we serve
majority of our students that we serve in our schools we’re very lucky on many
in our schools we’re very lucky on many
in our schools we’re very lucky on many many counts as well we have a graduation
many counts as well we have a graduation
many counts as well we have a graduation percentage that is second in the
percentage that is second in the
percentage that is second in the nation to Iowa and that bugs me
we have a college-going rate near the
we have a college-going rate near the top of the nation we do extremely well
top of the nation we do extremely well
top of the nation we do extremely well on standardized test scores and and
on standardized test scores and and
on standardized test scores and and other things so we we do many many
other things so we we do many many
other things so we we do many many things well frankly we’re the envy of a
things well frankly we’re the envy of a
things well frankly we’re the envy of a lot of other states I’ve often said
lot of other states I’ve often said
lot of other states I’ve often said though we can’t simply adopt solutions
though we can’t simply adopt solutions
though we can’t simply adopt solutions to other people’s problems we have
to other people’s problems we have
to other people’s problems we have problems of our own we should come up
problems of our own we should come up
problems of our own we should come up with those solutions that are going to
with those solutions that are going to
with those solutions that are going to make a difference for our problems we
make a difference for our problems we
make a difference for our problems we should learn from others and we
should learn from others and we
should learn from others and we certainly do but when we take on the
certainly do but when we take on the
certainly do but when we take on the challenges ourselves and own the system
challenges ourselves and own the system
challenges ourselves and own the system that we are responsible for creating and
that we are responsible for creating and
that we are responsible for creating and improving we can make a difference we
improving we can make a difference we
improving we can make a difference we can’t waste time on other people’s
can’t waste time on other people’s
can’t waste time on other people’s failed ideas about what education reform
failed ideas about what education reform
failed ideas about what education reform happens to be we actually have to look
happens to be we actually have to look
happens to be we actually have to look at what works here in Nebraska and
at what works here in Nebraska and
at what works here in Nebraska and frankly I’ve had this opportunity to
frankly I’ve had this opportunity to
frankly I’ve had this opportunity to travel around the state and see a lot of
travel around the state and see a lot of
travel around the state and see a lot of different experiences in our schools
different experiences in our schools
different experiences in our schools over the past few years and I’m
over the past few years and I’m
over the past few years and I’m extremely proud of the work that we’ve
extremely proud of the work that we’ve
extremely proud of the work that we’ve done in Nebraska to create a new
done in Nebraska to create a new
done in Nebraska to create a new accountability system that we call
accountability system that we call
accountability system that we call accountability for our quality education
accountability for our quality education
accountability for our quality education system today and tomorrow a quest the
system today and tomorrow a quest the
system today and tomorrow a quest the State Board and I know I got two members
State Board and I know I got two members
State Board and I know I got two members one of them was my fan anyway two
one of them was my fan anyway two
one of them was my fan anyway two members that are here the reality the
members that are here the reality the
members that are here the reality the reality for us is we build that system
reality for us is we build that system
reality for us is we build that system that we’re thoughtful about what this
that we’re thoughtful about what this
that we’re thoughtful about what this next generation of accountability is
next generation of accountability is
next generation of accountability is that not only is accountability
that not only is accountability
that not only is accountability something that we are doing as a policy
something that we are doing as a policy
something that we are doing as a policy but it’s something that we’re owning as
but it’s something that we’re owning as
but it’s something that we’re owning as a responsibility that’s frankly why I’m
a responsibility that’s frankly why I’m
a responsibility that’s frankly why I’m so proud of that particular work we have
so proud of that particular work we have
so proud of that particular work we have to continue to pay attention we have we
to continue to pay attention we have we
to continue to pay attention we have we have schools that in rural places with
have schools that in rural places with
have schools that in rural places with declining enrollment that deserve
declining enrollment that deserve
declining enrollment that deserve attention we have our Native American
attention we have our Native American
attention we have our Native American schools that deserve our attention in
schools that deserve our attention in
schools that deserve our attention in our investment we have urban schools and
our investment we have urban schools and
our investment we have urban schools and we have populations of students of
we have populations of students of
we have populations of students of racial and ethnic minorities and we have
racial and ethnic minorities and we have
racial and ethnic minorities and we have shifting populations of students who
shifting populations of students who
shifting populations of students who don’t speak English as their first
don’t speak English as their first
don’t speak English as their first language it’s our responsibility to be
language it’s our responsibility to be
language it’s our responsibility to be able to move that forward if we do that
able to move that forward if we do that
able to move that forward if we do that we can have a world-class system that
we can have a world-class system that
we can have a world-class system that builds on Nebraska’s history of optimism
builds on Nebraska’s history of optimism
builds on Nebraska’s history of optimism and direction for our future I’ve been
and direction for our future I’ve been
and direction for our future I’ve been through the state in a lot of different
through the state in a lot of different
through the state in a lot of different places and I got to tell you just one
places and I got to tell you just one
places and I got to tell you just one little story I can tell you that its
little story I can tell you that its
little story I can tell you that its apps
apps
apps critical that we pay attention to what’s
critical that we pay attention to what’s
critical that we pay attention to what’s happening in our schools and one time
happening in our schools and one time
happening in our schools and one time and I’m dr. fries ins over here I can
and I’m dr. fries ins over here I can
and I’m dr. fries ins over here I can see one time she and I walked into Starr
see one time she and I walked into Starr
see one time she and I walked into Starr elementary in Grand Island schools and
elementary in Grand Island schools and
elementary in Grand Island schools and we walked in and we had this chance
we walked in and we had this chance
we walked in and we had this chance ultimately to visit a school 245
ultimately to visit a school 245
ultimately to visit a school 245 students 17 different languages spoken
students 17 different languages spoken
students 17 different languages spoken and we walked into Starr elementary and
and we walked into Starr elementary and
and we walked into Starr elementary and there were interpreters there not for
there were interpreters there not for
there were interpreters there not for students but for the parents so the
students but for the parents so the
students but for the parents so the parents could be engaged we walked into
parents could be engaged we walked into
parents could be engaged we walked into the principal’s office and the principal
the principal’s office and the principal
the principal’s office and the principal is a bit nervous that I’m in the
is a bit nervous that I’m in the
is a bit nervous that I’m in the building he flips us his monitor around
building he flips us his monitor around
building he flips us his monitor around it shows me how he’s tracking the data
it shows me how he’s tracking the data
it shows me how he’s tracking the data on every single one of his students
on every single one of his students
on every single one of his students tests say I know where they are today
tests say I know where they are today
tests say I know where they are today and what they need today we walk into
and what they need today we walk into
and what they need today we walk into classrooms and teachers have their
classrooms and teachers have their
classrooms and teachers have their instructional targets on the wall and
instructional targets on the wall and
instructional targets on the wall and the students are absolutely engaged in
the students are absolutely engaged in
the students are absolutely engaged in that learning it was amazing and then we
that learning it was amazing and then we
that learning it was amazing and then we walked back out of that place and I
walked back out of that place and I
walked back out of that place and I thought what that’s one of the best
thought what that’s one of the best
thought what that’s one of the best schools I walked into in my life and
schools I walked into in my life and
schools I walked into in my life and then I realized that’s one of our needs
then I realized that’s one of our needs
then I realized that’s one of our needs improvement schools right they are doing
improvement schools right they are doing
improvement schools right they are doing many of the right things that we would
many of the right things that we would
many of the right things that we would expect that they’d be doing on a daily
expect that they’d be doing on a daily
expect that they’d be doing on a daily basis in that school now in addition to
basis in that school now in addition to
basis in that school now in addition to my 300,000 children my wife and I had
my 300,000 children my wife and I had
my 300,000 children my wife and I had five children and they deserve to grow
five children and they deserve to grow
five children and they deserve to grow up in a world in a state where every
up in a world in a state where every
up in a world in a state where every student around them has every
student around them has every
student around them has every opportunity every person around them has
opportunity every person around them has
opportunity every person around them has every opportunity to be successful
every opportunity to be successful
every opportunity to be successful that’s all of our job and we’re gonna
that’s all of our job and we’re gonna
that’s all of our job and we’re gonna have to participate in that success now
have to participate in that success now
have to participate in that success now dr. keen in 1964 went on to say these
dr. keen in 1964 went on to say these
dr. keen in 1964 went on to say these words so many people fail to remain
words so many people fail to remain
words so many people fail to remain awake through great revolution so I call
awake through great revolution so I call
awake through great revolution so I call upon you tonight not to be spectators on
upon you tonight not to be spectators on
upon you tonight not to be spectators on the sidelines not to be individuals who
the sidelines not to be individuals who
the sidelines not to be individuals who are looking on to be involved
are looking on to be involved
are looking on to be involved participants in this great struggle to
participants in this great struggle to
participants in this great struggle to make our nation a greater nation to end
make our nation a greater nation to end
make our nation a greater nation to end all of the evils of racial injustice
all of the evils of racial injustice
all of the evils of racial injustice poverty the evil a war we will all be
poverty the evil a war we will all be
poverty the evil a war we will all be involved participants we will be able to
involved participants we will be able to
involved participants we will be able to speed up that day Wow
speed up that day Wow
speed up that day Wow Wow we have to be involved participants
Wow we have to be involved participants
Wow we have to be involved participants we ultimately can’t make our nation a
we ultimately can’t make our nation a
we ultimately can’t make our nation a greater nation without all of us being
greater nation without all of us being
greater nation without all of us being involved I call on you to help me speed
involved I call on you to help me speed
involved I call on you to help me speed up that day I call on you to help me
up that day I call on you to help me
up that day I call on you to help me speed up that day that dr. King’s dream
speed up that day that dr. King’s dream
speed up that day that dr. King’s dream be realized I call on you to support the
be realized I call on you to support the
be realized I call on you to support the students and that teachers and the
students and that teachers and the
students and that teachers and the communities to support one another I
communities to support one another I
communities to support one another I call on all of us to collectively be
call on all of us to collectively be
call on all of us to collectively be better patrons and partners in our
better patrons and partners in our
better patrons and partners in our efforts to improve opportunities for our
efforts to improve opportunities for our
efforts to improve opportunities for our students
students
students I ask you not to dwell on what is but
I ask you not to dwell on what is but
I ask you not to dwell on what is but instead what could be let us be the
instead what could be let us be the
instead what could be let us be the state that others compare themselves to
state that others compare themselves to
state that others compare themselves to let us be the state that lives up to our
let us be the state that lives up to our
let us be the state that lives up to our moral imperative to support education to
moral imperative to support education to
moral imperative to support education to make our nation a greater nation we must
make our nation a greater nation we must
make our nation a greater nation we must get used to always needing to be better
get used to always needing to be better
get used to always needing to be better let us not strive for settling but
let us not strive for settling but
let us not strive for settling but instead settle for striving this is
instead settle for striving this is
instead settle for striving this is common sense for the common good there
common sense for the common good there
common sense for the common good there is no place like Nebraska I am proud to
is no place like Nebraska I am proud to
is no place like Nebraska I am proud to have this particular role I call on you
have this particular role I call on you
have this particular role I call on you to help me make that dream a reality
”
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