WASHINGTON (Nov. 8, 2010) – U.S. education chief has been traveling the country recruiting smart young people to consider careers in teaching. Next stop – Howard University. The U.S. Department of Education will host a TEACH Town Hall meeting with Secretary Arne Duncan and national recording artist and education advocate John Legend at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 in the Howard University School of Business Auditorium, 2300 Sixth Street, NW.

One of the objectives of the national TEACH campaign is to attract more minorities, particularly males, into pursuing careers as teachers since 35 percent of the students in public schools across the nation are African American or Hispanic. However, only 15 percent of the teachers in public schools are African American or Hispanic.

The town hall will aim to highlight the Education Department’s TEACH campaign, designed to recruit the next generation of teachers. The event will feature a panel discussion and question-and-answer session about education in America and the importance of great teachers.

The Howard University Town Hall marks the second official TEACH event since the campaign launched in late September. TEACH is the U.S. Department of Education’s national teacher recruitment campaign, which provides information and resources for students and prospective teachers. At TEACH.gov prospective and aspiring educators can learn what it’s really like to be a teacher and get the tools they need to launch their own career in education.