Story highlights DeVos says she got inside the school to meet with students, teachers

"I will not be deterred in executing the vital mission of the Department of Education," DeVos says

(CNN) Protesters briefly blocked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos as she tried to enter a public school in Washington on Friday morning.

Demonstrators holding signs greeted DeVos when she arrived at Jefferson Middle School Academy in southwest Washington, not far from the Department of Education building.

When she headed toward the school's entrance, the protesters stood in front of her, video from CNN affiliate WJLA showed.

DeVos then turned around and walked away, the video showed, with one protester walking beside her shouting, "Go back! Shame, shame" as she got into an SUV and drove off.

Protesters gather outside Jefferson Middle School Academy in Washington to oppose a visit by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.

In a statement issued Friday afternoon, DeVos said she subsequently got inside the school to meet with students, faculty and administrators.