Sarah Wilson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education, visited Monfort Heights Elementary School in Cincinnati on Mar. 17 as part of the department’s national History Rocks! Trail to Independence tour. The event is one of several marking America’s upcoming 250th birthday and aims to help students connect with the nation’s founding principles.
The visit brought together two hundred fourth and fifth grade students who participated in interactive games focused on American history, civic engagement, patriotism, and Ohio’s role in national events. Principal Trey Rischmann opened the program before Wilson addressed the students.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to return to my home state to celebrate a monumental milestone—250 years of America!” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Sarah Wilson. “What better place to honor this incredible journey than in a school, where the future is being shaped every day, and where the spirit of learning, community, and possibility reflects the values that have carried our nation for two and a half centuries.”
The History Rocks! initiative is part of broader efforts by the U.S. Department of Education to commemorate America's semiquincentennial. The program is organized in partnership with Freedom 250 and coordinated with the America 250 Civics Education Coalition. According to information from the department, Secretary McMahon, other administration officials, and education leaders will visit schools across all 50 states to highlight examples of high-quality history and civics instruction.
Freedom 250 leads presidential programming for the anniversary celebration with a mission to unite Americans around honoring history and building opportunities for future generations. The America 250 Civics Education Coalition includes organizations such as the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than fifty other groups dedicated to advancing civic education nationwide.
The department plans additional events throughout the year as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening civic literacy among students.
