MCALLEN, Texas - Dan Porterfield, the president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, made his first trip to the Rio Grande Valley recently, giving the keynote speech at the region’s premier education awards event.
Porterfield spoke at the 2nd Annual Teach For America-RGV Honor Roll Gala, which was held at the McAllen Convention Center.
“It is an incredible honor for me to be here, my very first trip to this part of the country, to be at the epicenter of emerging excellence in education. There is so much happening right here,” Porterfield said. The audience, mostly comprising educators, applauded these remarks.
In stating that the Valley is home to emerging excellence in education, Porterfield may have been alluding to last year’s news that every school district in the region received an “A” or “B” in statewide rankings.
Porterfield also praised Teach For America.
“I believe in Teach For America because it knows the every child can learn and grow the greatness inside of them. I believe in Teach For America because it believes that every child has a legal right, a civil right and a human right to a high quality education,” Porterfield said, again to a round of applause.
“I believe in Teach For American because it has a can-do faith in its teachers, and schools and is fanatical about getting results. I believe in Teach For America because it calls itself to address not just the consequences of educational injustice but the causes of that injustice. And I believe in Teach For America because so many of its alums, many here tonight, have wrapped their brains around the ideal of educational excellence and never, ever, let it go. The is so important for our society.”
Porterfield also said he believed in the nonprofit because it “reminds us that everyone can make a difference and all of us should try.”
He added: “And I believe in Teach For America because it works in partnership with the communities, in service, not as if from above, and playing a long game, region after region after region, all around the country.”
The Honor Roll Gala served as Teach For America-RGV’s only fundraiser of the year. The aim was to raise $150,000. The process will allow the group to grow its teaching and leadership force.
Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.
