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Celebrating 100,000 new STEM teachers for America’s classrooms

Ten years ago in his State of the Union address, President Obama announced a goal to add 100,000 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) teachers (Opens in a new tab) by 2021 to help address disparities in America’s classrooms. The President’s historic call to action energized more than 300 education institutions, policymakers, STEM experts, and leaders in philanthropy to come together under the banner of 100kin10 (Opens in a new tab), a national network dedicated to giving K-12 school children across the country a high-quality STEM education. 

Today, 100kin10 announced that they have met and surpassed President Obama's goal (Opens in a new tab), adding more than 108,000 trained STEM teachers in 10 years.

President Obama fist bumps a young girl with a medium skin tone while sitting in front of a computer. He is sitting at a table with another young woman with a deep skin tone.

“Not just meeting, but exceeding 100,000 new STEM teachers is an amazing achievement, and it reflects the hard work and unwavering commitment of 100Kin10 and the hundreds of other organizations that answered the call when President Obama set that audacious goal 10 years ago,” former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said. 

This achievement is a powerful example of President Obama’s belief in the power of teachers to make a difference in the lives of young people. But despite this week’s exciting news, we know more work remains to ensure every child has access to a world-class education, including on the South Side of Chicago. It’s one reason we’re committed to making the Obama Presidential Center a place where teachers and students can come together to learn from history, and be inspired to write chapters of their own. 

To hear more about President Obama’s vision for the Center, check out his conversation with South Shore teacher Monique Thorpe:

President Obama meets with South Side Chicago teacher Monique Thorpe