​​President Barack Obama on Tuesday visited the Children’s Laboratory School at Eastfield College in Texas and met with students and teachers before delivering remarks urging Congress to pass his jobs bill.

Obama’s speech focused on how his proposed American Jobs Act can preserve teachers and renovate schools. Prior to his remarks, the White House released a report outlining how the plan would support nearly 400,000 K-12 jobs by preventing layoffs of educators and allowing thousands more to be hired or rehired.

Obama opened his speech at Eastfield College, which is part of the Dallas County Community College District, by noting an AP teacher he met during his tour of the college’s lab.

“Teachers like Kim Russell are why I came here today,” he said. “There are teachers and educators like Kim all over the country.”

The president noted that without federal support, as many as 280,000 teacher jobs could be at risk over the next year.

“Unless they receive federal assistance, many school districts will be forced to reduce the number of teachers in their classrooms, or turn to other measures such as shortening the school year or cutting spending on schoolbooks and supplies,” he said.

Aside from providing immediate jobs, preserving teaching positions is an investment in the future, Obama said. To remain globally competitive, the U.S. needs highly skilled workers for careers in high-growth areas in science and technology, he said. But that requires an investment in education.

Although he didn’t mention it in his speech, the president’s proposal would also provide $5 billion to repair and renovate community colleges, which have experienced huge cuts in their public funding.