The teachers union worked diligently during the last 21 months to secure a contract that will take care of the community, students and staff and make sure everything is equitable for everyone.

Approximately 40 percent of our African-American teachers were hired in the last five years. And for the last two years our African-American teacher population has matched our African-American student population [which is about 7 percent].

We already have teachers asking whether there will be a follow-up.

New teachers will more than meet the required 30 points by attending the early release sessions,

I'm elated, just elated. I thought there would be one bill or another but not both.

The Elle girl initiative is similar to the Vogue (campaign). We're trying to show that our fashions are affordable fashions. We're realizing that our customers are becoming more fashioned-focus, and we are too. Our goal is to make fashion accessible to all.