Kentucky’s 2019 teacher of the year, Jessica Dueñas, decided not to attend the formal ceremony in Washington, D.C., telling the Courier-Journal that she felt the Trump administration was “attacking public education.” She added, “Why come to D.C. and smile and get an award and not stand up for my students?" The Jefferson County Public School teacher was joined by Minnesota teacher of the year Kelly Holstine in snubbing the Trump administration.
Holstine explained that she was standing up for the country’s marginalized student body, telling reporters that it wasn’t enough to tell kids that “it gets better.” She pointed out that Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has been destructive in rolling back protections for millions of kids, including LGBT students. Dueñas told media outlets that she was hoping to highlight the Trump administration’s move to privatize public education.
The ceremony that the two teachers protested included the attendance of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has spent most of her time showing the world how destructive and powerful an incompetent person can be if they are rich. The idea that any public school teacher would be happy or excited to be in a room with DeVos is laughable, as she has spent most of her reign trying to cut back on federal funding for public schools, while funneling that money into more privatized interests.
Dueñas says she also objected to DeVos and Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s handling of a recent private school tax credit “roundtable” that excluded public school interests and personnel entirely. It was such a freeze-out that even student newspapers were locked out from covering the event.
Dueñas told reporters that she lives her activism because she is a role model for children and a dedicated educator trying to teach young people how to become moral people. "I will let them know this is something I believe in," she said. "And when they grow up, I want them to follow their beliefs."