It was a day for the Syracuse Teachers Association to shine in the national spotlight, as U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan took a close look at the "Say Yes to Education" program at the Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary School.

"I think what is going on here is extraordinary," Duncan exclaimed as he paused during a recent tour of the school, along with NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.

Syracuse TA President Anne Marie Voutsinas said the role of NYSUT members at the school has been key to the program's success. The local union agreed to changes in the workweek for social workers so they could be available when children and families needed them after school.

"Having our members in on the decisions here is working well for us, and for our students," Voutsinas said.

Syracuse is the first public school system in the country to implement the nationally acclaimed "Say Yes to Education" program on a district-wide basis.

The program aims to help more students reach college through a combination of intensive support systems and the promise of free college tuition, fees and books for any student who earns admission to one of several participating public and private colleges.

At the MLK School, Duncan and Iannuzzi talked to students, toured the bright and inviting school library, and visited with the school's health staff.

"Say Yes" dovetails with NYSUT's longstanding support for efforts that both highlight and encourage teacher effectiveness, Iannuzzi said.

"I think one of the most valuable things coming out of the Obama focus on education is the emphasis on valuing teachers," Iannuzzi said as he accompanied Duncan on his day in Syracuse.

The Sept. 9 tour of the school followed a panel discussion at Syracuse University, led by Vice President Joe Biden, to detail President Obama's focus on affordable education. (See related story.)

In addition to Iannuzzi, the panel included National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel, and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.