Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said she would “not be deterred” after protesters briefly blocked her from entering a Washington public school on Friday.
In a statement sent Friday afternoon, DeVos thanked the leaders of Jefferson Middle School Academy in D.C. for welcoming her earlier in the day for an event, her first at a public K-12 school since being sworn in as Education secretary.
“Focusing on their students and families is at the heart of Jefferson Academy’s approach and that’s exactly what I believe is at the heart of providing an exceptional education,” she said in the statement.” I was honored to speak with Jefferson’s team about our shared commitment to strengthening public education.”
{mosads}Ahead of her visit, a crowd of protesters which included parents and teachers, gathered around the school, chanting and holding signs.
One protester physically blocked DeVos from a stairway at one entrance of the school. A video from the scene shows another protester yelling at DeVos as she walks away from the entrance toward her vehicle. She later entered the school through another entrance.
“Keep giving money to senators and buying your way to the position,” the protestor said. “I hope you’re proud of yourself.”
“Go back,” the protestor yelled. “Shame! Shame! Shame!”
“I respect peaceful protest, and I will not be deterred in executing the vital mission of the Department of Education,” DeVos said in response to the incident. “No school door in America will be blocked from those seeking to help our nation’s school children.”
The Senate confirmed DeVos’s controversial nomination on Tuesday to lead the Department of Education after Vice President Pence cast a tie-breaking vote, the first time a vice president has done so for a Cabinet nominee.