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Politics K-12 kept watch on education policy and politics in the nation’s capital and in the states. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: Federal, States.

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Second Lady Karen Pence Returning to Classroom to Teach Art

By Alyson Klein — January 15, 2019 1 min read
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Second lady Karen Pence, the wife of Vice President Mike Pence, is heading back to the classroom.

Pence will be teaching art twice a week at Immanuel Christian School, in Springfield, Va., a private, faith-based school where she’s previously worked. She’ll be on the job through May.

“I am excited to be back in the classroom and doing what I love to do, which is to teach art to elementary students,” Pence said in a statement. “I have missed teaching art, and it’s great to return to the school where I taught art for twelve years.”

The school asks prospective employees to sign an application affirming that they will not “teach contrary” to certain religious tenants embraced by the school, including that marriage is between a man and a woman. And the school requires job applicants to certify that they will live a “moral” life, including by avoiding “homosexual or lesbian sexual activity, polygamy, transgender identity, any other violation of the unique roles of male and females.”

The school also notifies parents that students may be kicked out for failing to live up to these standards. Pence’s move to teach at the school has generated some controversy. More from the Huffington Post.

Pence isn’t the first spouse of a vice president to work in the classroom. Jill Biden, the wife of former vice president Joe Biden, taught English full-time at a community college in Virginia while her husband was in office.

Karen Pence smiles as she gives a tour of the holiday decorations at the Vice President’s residence, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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A version of this news article first appeared in the Politics K-12 blog.