Lincoln High School had a special visitor from Washington, D.C. on the first day of school last week. Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the U.S. Department of Education, was impressed with what she saw and heard.

Melendez de Santa Ana made several appearances on her visit on Sept. 1-2. She discussed teacher preparation programs under the department’s “Blueprint for Reform: Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).” She discussed the status of the act and met with students, teachers, administrators and school board members.

On Sept. 1 she was at Puget Sound Educational Service District in Renton. There she met with officials from the University of Washington-Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound to discuss teacher preparation. Later that afternoon she met with superintendents from around the region to discuss ESEA reauthorization and ways the department can better support schools districts in the state.

The next day she toured the Lincoln Center program at Lincoln High School. Now in its third year, this program enrolls about 400 students who attend school until 5 p.m. four days a week, as well as two Saturdays a month. They also attend a summer school session as part of the college preparatory program. Administrators want to expand it to the entire school. Last month they submitted an application for a $1.9 million grant to do this through the U.S. Department of Education.

She chatted with Michael Andersen, president of the Associated Student Body, in a hallway. He told her of his plans to attend either Western Washington University or Whitworth University to prepare to become a teacher. Melendez de Santa Ana applauded his career choice. “I never regretted such a great career,” she remarked.

Superintendent Art Jarvis, Tacoma School Board member Debbie Winskill and Mayor Marilyn Strickland accompanied Melendez de Santa Ana on the tour.

In Jennifer Zamira’s sophomore English class, she asked for a show of hands of students who planned to attend college. Every student put a hand in the air.

“That is wonderful,” she said in response. Melendez de Santa Ana noted that President Barack Obama wants to increase the number of American youth who attend college. “We have a commitment at the Department of Education to see that the president’s goals are met.”

“What a wonderful school,” she said later of her impression of Lincoln. “The community, parents and administrators all work together to give students options.” She was especially impressed by the desire of Zamira’s students to pursue higher education. “That was an amazing moment, one I will never forget.”

Lincoln Co-Principal Pat Erwin said he learned in mid-August that Melendez de Santa Ana would be visiting the area. Katie Taylor, a teacher ambassador fellow with the U.S. Department of Education who teaches at Clover Park High School in Lakewood, told him of the federal official’s interest in visiting schools with large numbers of students from low-income families utilizing innovative programs. Taylor is a big fan of Lincoln Center and asked Erwin if he could arrange a tour.

“We have had good support from the community,” Erwin said of Lincoln Center. “To have someone from the Department of Education visit really highlights what we are doing here.”

“She wanted to see the best teachers using the best strategies,” Co-Principal Greg Eisnaugle said. “It really comes down to teachers. They are the ones who do the work.”

Contact the writer at jlarson@tacomaweekly.com.