The Bottom Line A Special Event with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon & Keri D. Ingraham
On October 19, 2026, Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education hosted a special event with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham.
The event, which took place in a private home in Woodway, Washington, kicked off Secretary McMahon’s visit to Washington state as part of her “Returning Education to the States” tour. Washington was the 46th state visited by the Secretary and her team as they travel through the country to visit with teachers, parents, students, and local leaders about successful education initiatives.
The American Center for Transforming Education event kicked off Secretary McMahon’s visit to Washington State as part of her “Returning Education to the States” tour.
After a beautiful breakfast buffet and time for guests to socialize, the morning’s programming began with a welcome from the host, followed by remarks from Discovery Institute President Steve Buri. Next, Ingraham provided an overview of the work of the American Center for Transforming Education and an update on the remarkable progress taking place.
Secretary McMahon arrived and congratulated Ingraham on her Presidential Commission appointment from the President of the United States. Then she joined the other guests to hear additional remarks from Buri. He handed it off to Ingraham, who provided a high-level view of the work occurring under the leadership of Secretary McMahon.
A special video featuring clips from Ingraham’s media interviews about the work to return education to the states was shown before two elementary school-aged students had the honor of introducing “the 13th U.S. Secretary of Education” and “the last U.S. Secretary of Education.” The moment was a morning favorite as guests applauded, and the Secretary’s joyful reaction was unforgettable.
Secretary McMahon updated guests on the work that has taken place since she was confirmed in March 2025 to downsize the U.S. Department of Education. She highlighted the new Federal Tax Credit Scholarship set to take effect in January.
In her remarks, Secretary McMahon also emphasized the importance of education freedom and commended Ingraham’s work. The Secretary said, “I’m really pleased with the efforts of those like Keri who have come on board with us and have looked at the excellence of education and how we can continue to discover how to promote that in all of our states, so it is a great pleasure for me to be here today.”
After she took questions from guests, the program drew to a close with Ingraham honoring Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Chairman Donald Nielsen for his four decades of involvement in public education reform.
Guests were invited to meet the Secretary and continue connecting with one another.
Reflecting on the morning, Ingraham shared that it was a joy-filled, extraordinary event and a career highlight to host it with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
