First Lady Jill Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III paid a visit to Maxwell Elementary Middle School on Friday to promote a new initiative by the Department of Defense: a universal preschool program for military families.
This initiative provides a full-day pre-kindergarten program at 80 military schools, including Maxwell. During their visit, Biden addressed Montgomery leaders and parents at the school, discussing the Biden administration’s efforts in creating the program and President Joe Biden’s broader goal of making high-quality preschool accessible to all American children aged three and four.
“The work being done at Maxwell is a model for how we can offer high-quality preschool to every young child in the country,” said the First Lady. “Introducing new programs requires dedication, and that’s why we’re all here today, to ensure we get this right.”
Secretary Austin, who has a personal connection to the military as a former Army officer with a 41-year career, spoke about the significance of the program in supporting the families of U.S. service members. “This is close to my heart, and I understand the sacrifices our troops and their families make,” he said.
In addition to the preschool program, Austin has been instrumental in efforts to increase troop salaries by 10%, reduce prices at military commissaries, and boost the housing allowance for military families.
While touring the school, Biden and Austin visited classrooms, interacted with teachers, and even participated in a song about a frog with the children. Technical Sgt. Shakira Mathis, who held her son during the conversation with the First Lady, expressed her gratitude for the school’s preschool program and the support it has provided her family. “I am so thankful for the staff here. They have become like family to us,” Mathis shared. “I am grateful to be a part of this community as both a parent and a military mom.”