U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Manhattan High School and Kansas State University as part of her Returning Education to the States Tour, according to an Aug. 5 announcement. The visit to Kansas marks the 40th stop on a tour that will include all fifty states.
McMahon began her day at Manhattan High School, where she met with teachers and administrators to discuss how the school prepares students for future workforce opportunities. Manhattan High School serves about 2,000 students in grades nine through twelve and offers a variety of academic and career-focused learning experiences. During her visit, McMahon toured campus programs before joining a roundtable discussion centered on Career Technical Education and workforce readiness.
The Secretary then visited Kansas State University, meeting with university leadership to learn more about its efforts in preparing students for success through academic programs and workforce development initiatives. Kansas State University enrolls over 16,000 undergraduate students and around 3,000 graduate students across multiple disciplines.
“At Manhattan High School in Kansas, I observed students engaged in robust Career and Technical Education programs, learning practical skills in high-demand fields like welding, auto tech, and electrical engineering. This model not only gives students an education, but it jumpstarts their future by helping them build financial independence, develop confidence, and acquire the skills to contribute meaningfully to their communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Those conversations continued at Kansas State University, where we discussed how graduates are prepared for workforce success through partnerships with local employers and homegrown initiatives. The conversations had today will help inform our ongoing efforts to encourage local innovation in education across the nation.”
On her Returning Education to the States Tour, McMahon is traveling nationwide to hear directly from teachers, parents, and community leaders about what works best for their students, with plans to compile a toolkit of best practices for distribution.