Ann Wagner's career is both deep and broad in service to her hometown, state and nation with over 30 years of work in the private sector, community and public service, and the political arena.
The 2nd District has always been home for Ann. It is where she and her husband of over thirty years, Ray, grew up, went to school, raised their children, work, volunteer, and go to church. This community has given her extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.
The St. Louis region is home to some of the best K-12 education options in America—this includes private schools, public schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, and homeschooling. A good education is the foundation for a prosperous and secure future, and a student's future should not be limited by their zip code or household income.
We know that when parents are empowered to choose the educational environments they believe work best for their kids, students are more likely to succeed and graduate from high school. American children, no matter where they live, should have the opportunity to receive an outstanding education, and should never be trapped in a school that is failing their educational needs.
Unfortunately, the federal government's approach to education in the past has been to craft a one-size-fits-all approach to students' needs. The challenges our educators face in the St. Louis area are not the same as those in California and Massachusetts. Moreover, we have learned the hard way that throwing money at our nation's broken education system does not solve our core problems, as evident by America's decline in worldwide education rankings.
In Congress, I aim to undo many of the federal burdens and one-size-fits-all approach that the federal government has imposed on states, while ensuring that quality teachers are empowered to do their jobs. Properly educating our country's children is investing in the future, and it directly supports our country's overall wealth and prosperity.