HARTFORD, Conn. — School officials in Fairfield canceled a planned visit by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon after the district said there was pushback from parents about her visit.

McMahon, a Connecticut resident, was scheduled to visit McKinley Elementary School on Friday morning as part of the U.S. Education Department’s “History Rocks!” tour, according to Fairfield Public Schools Superintendent Michael Testani.

“Following this evening’s announcement about the Secretary of Education’s planned visit to McKinley on Friday, we heard from many families who expressed concerns and shared that they were considering keeping their children home,” Testani said in a statement on Wednesday that was emailed to parents and shared with the Courant. “Due to these circumstances, the Secretary of Education’s visit to Fairfield has been canceled.”

Testani’s office said they made the decision after receiving multiple complaints from parents.

The visit was supposed to be part of a tour to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. McMahon is scheduled to visit schools in all 50 states as part of the festivities around the nationwide initiative.

“While we were initially excited to participate in a traveling program connected to the nation’s 250th anniversary, our highest priority is and will always be supporting our students and ensuring a safe, welcoming learning environment every day,” Testani said in a statement.

“After listening carefully to our community and sharing those concerns with officials in Washington, the decision was made to cancel Friday’s program.”

McMahon’s remarks were going to be focused on civics education centered around U.S. and Connecticut history, according to a press release that stated that the visit was postponed and would be rescheduled at a later date.

“As we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, the U.S. Department of Education is coordinating with the America 250 Civics Education Coalition, a national partnership that includes the America First Policy Institute, Turning Point USA, Hillsdale College, and more than 50 national and state organizations,” the release said.

According to the Department of Education, the ‘History Rocks’ Tour “is dedicated to advancing civic education and expanding opportunities for students to learn about the ideas, individuals, and events that define the American story. Each History Rocks! event showcases local approaches to teaching U.S. history, spotlights student creativity, and highlights the Department’s ongoing efforts to support civics and history education through community partnerships.”

McMahon is a Greenwich resident. She has served on the Connecticut State Board of Education and on the Board of Trustees at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

She also was CEO of state-based World Wrestling Entertainment, which she co-founded, and ran for the U.S. Senate twice. She is a longtime Trump ally.

_____

©2026 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.