A top-quartile teacher will increase the performance of their class - based on test scores - by over 10 percent in a single year. ... That means that if the entire U.S., for two years, had top-quartile teachers, the entire difference between us and Asia would go away.

Investing in tomorrow's technology today is more critical than ever.

I want to admit that I am an optimist. Any tough problem, I think it can be solved.

If you rely too much on the people in other countries and other companies, in a sense that's your brain and you are outsourcing your brain.

The leader needs to create an environment in which people can analyze the situation and develop a good response.

Over 80% of the poor are people who have small plots of land and grow their own food and they don't grow enough to sell much into the marketplace. So they will be hit hard by the worst in climate. They really get hit hard starting in the 20-year time frame and thereafter.

Americans want students to get the best education possible. We want schools to prepare children to become good citizens and members of a prosperous American economy.