Proud to stand with our public schools this week (and every week)

At a time when Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is trying to undermine and defund public education, it's more important than ever to stand with and celebrate our public schools and the millions of Americans who devote their lives to our children and their future.

I'm proud to lead National Public Schools Week to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our public school system. I attended public schools from kindergarten through law school, and my children went to public schools in Oregon.

Public schools embody important values as a nation: supporting all students, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, zip code, or ability. Public schools are there for every child, so every child has a chance to pursue the American dream. As schools face unprecedented challenges, it's crucial that we support them so they can continue to educate and enlighten America's future leaders.

You can join the conversation by following #PublicSchoolsWeek on Twitter or share your story using #LovePublicEducation.

Thank you for standing with me in support of our public schools this week, and every week,

Suzanne Bonamici