Why Did the White House Keep the Press from Hearing the 2018 "Teacher of the Year's" A

Amy Goodman & Denis Moynihan, Democracy Now: Several weeks ago, President Trump presented Mandy Manning the "2018 Teacher of the Year Award", but the press was not allowed to witness her acceptance speech. Manning teaches math and English to refugee and immigrant students at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington and she had a lot to say. Luckily, a friend made a recording, so we know what she wanted Trump and Education Secretary DeVos to hear.

“I am honored and humbled to be the vehicle through which my students may tell their stories,” Manning said in the historic East Room, as billionaire Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta looked on. “I am here for David, a future IT specialist who hopes to one day be able to attend university. I am here for Tamara, who is currently studying pre-med at Eastern Washington University. I am here for Safa and Tara, both future elementary school teachers. I am here for Solomon and Gafishi, who believe that the United States is the place where they have found the center of their lives, where they can have dreams and hopes to be someone.”

As she ended her speech, Manning said: “Over the next year, I will be sharing my students’ stories and profound insights into our country throughout the nation. I am here for refugee and immigrant students, for the kids in the gay-straight alliance, and for all the girls I’ve coached over the years, to send them the message that they are wanted, they are loved, they are enough, and they matter.”