While the Republicans began their highly anticipated national convention, Hillary Clinton opted to use the time to talk to teachers at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers in Minneapolis.

This is the second time this month Clinton has met with a large group of teachers to discuss her public education priorities; her last visit was with the National Education Association where she delivered a thirty-minute speech elaborating on her education views.

Similarly to the NEA, Clinton was endorsed by the AFT last year. As one of the few candidates to talk education and a long-time supporter of improving early education, Clinton has been a front-runner for education advocate votes since nearly the beginning.

Introduced warmly as a “dear friend” by AFT President Randi Weingarten, Clinton took the time to further elaborate on her views on improving early education through universal preschool, eradicating student debt for future teachers, and standing against privatizing public services among other things.

Clinton learned from her last speech after seemingly expressing support for charter schools while addressing the NEA to not say the polarizing words this time around; she was briefly booed after mentioning charter schools during her last speech.

Like in her NEA speech, Clinton advised educators that she'd be looking out for their best interests when elected president.

“I know that you have some of the hardest, most important jobs in the world. And I want to say right from the outside: that I’m with you,” Clinton said her audience of teachers.

”When I am president, you will have a partner in the White House and you will always have a seat at the table. Because just like you, I get up every day and I ask, how can we do better for America’s kids?"

Clinton also used the speech to blast her opponent Donald Trump and his declared running mate, Mike Pence. Specifically, she addressed Pence's mixed record on early education. 

Pence "turned away millions of federal dollars that could have expanded access to preschool for low-income children and slashed funding for schools that served Indiana's most vulnerable students," she charged.

She referred to him as one of the most hostile individuals to American public education. 

[See where Mike Pence stands on education here.] 

Watch the full speech below.

Nicole Gorman, Senior Education World Contributor

7/19/2016