(WTNH) — President-elect Joe Biden announced Tuesday Dr. Miguel Cardona, the current Connecticut education commissioner, will be nominated to serve as the 12th Secretary of Education.
Wednesday, Biden officially announced Cardona as his pick for Secretary of Education.
Cardona was appointed as Connecticut’s education secretary in 2019 by Governor Ned Lamont. Cardona has been a staunch advocate for keeping kids in schools during the pandemic.
Cardona has dedicated decades of his life to the public school system here in the state. Most of that time has been spent where he grew up, in Meriden.
President-elect Biden said of Cardona Wednesday, “He is the Secretary of Education for this moment.”
“I’m grateful for the change to take on this responsibility,” Cardona said.
In Miguel Cardona, America will have an experienced and dedicated public school teacher leading the way at the Department of Education — ensuring that every student is equipped to thrive in the economy of the future, that every educator has the resources they need to do their jobs with dignity and success, and that every school is on track to reopen safely.
He will help us address systemic inequities, tackle the mental health crisis in our education system, give educators a well-deserved raise, ease the burden of education debt, and secure high-quality, universal pre-K for every three- and four-year-old in the country.
As a lifelong champion of public education, he understands that our children are the kite strings that keep our national ambitions aloft — and that everything that will be possible for our country tomorrow will be thanks to the investments we make and the care that our educators and our schools deliver today.“
President-elect Joe Biden
Even as we work to reopen our schools safely and responsibly, we also need to build a public education system that lifts up all Americans, regardless of race, background, or zip code.
Miguel Cardona is not only an experienced public servant, he is also a former public school teacher and administrator who understands what our students, teachers, and schools need to be successful. From making universal pre-K a reality for three- and four-year-olds to ending the status quo where school districts with the greatest needs get the fewest resources to making college more affordable, Miguel will help make sure all of our students have the knowledge and skills to thrive in a 21st-century economy. And I look forward to working alongside him to help every child reach their God-given potential.”
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris
Biden is expected to officially announce state education commissioner Miguel Cardona as his choice for education secretary at an event in Delaware later Wednesday.
If confirmed into the position, Cardona’s first task will be to deliver laptops to students learning remotely nationwide. Cardona has delivered more than 100,000 laptops to students across Connecticut since March.
Biden has set a goal of reopening most schools within the first 100 days of taking office.
When News 8’s Chief Political Correspondent Jodi Latina spoke with Cardona recently he said, “No matter what, he feels blessed.”
Governor Ned Lamont has told reporters Tuesday, “Commissioner Miguel Cardona has been a guiding hand and a steady leader for Connecticut since he assumed his role at the State Department of Education. His career in public education brought him to all parts of the school. From the bus to the schoolyard, to the classroom and the principal’s chair, Miguel has the experience necessary to lead our country’s children through this next vitally important phase…We are sad to lose Miguel, but this is a remarkable opportunity for him and his family. We’ve always felt Miguel was a sort of best-kept-secret, and now the entire country will understand why. We are proud of our Connecticut son as he joins the Biden-Harris administration.”
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus supports Cardona, even sending the president-elect a letter on Cardona’s behalf saying they’re “proud to offer their enthusiastic endorsement.”
RELATED: Dr. Miguel Cardona: Journey from CT educator to Biden Secretary of Education pick
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal released a statement Tuesday following the announcement saying,
This selection would send an inspiring message to Connecticut’s children, especially all who start school speaking another language: there is no limit to how far you can go as a leader. Miguel Cardona is a son of Meriden’s public schools and state universities, a hands-on teacher and manager, and a leader of vision and courage who can help federal education policy recover from its current catastrophic failures.
He has the personal experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to reverse the damage caused in the last four years by this administration’s malign neglect of public education. He would be missed in Connecticut, but his selection would be a tremendous benefit to the entire nation.
State Senator Minority Leader Kevin Kelly (R) said of the pick, “the president-elect demonstrates he recognizes we have some administrative talents here too. I think whenever you see a fellow Connecticut resident elevated it’s a good day for our state.”
State Senate President Martin Looney (D) said, “It’s a great honor for Connecticut to have our commissioner of education become the national secretary of education. I think certainly you’ll see what Cardona stands for is a very different view of education in the Biden administration from Betsy DeVos in the Trump administration.”
Congressman Joe Courtney said, “President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris should be commended for this outstanding pick for Secretary of Education. Doctor Cardona brings a powerful personal story of the importance of education in his life, which began in difficult circumstances.”
The state’s largest teacher’s unions also released endorsements.
AFT Connecticut said, “Cardona’s made strengthening public education and fighting for equity his life’s work.”
The Connecticut Education Association (CEA) said, “Biden and Harris have held true to their promises of appointing a pubic school educator with classroom experience.”
Dr. Cardona earned his elementary education degree from Central Connecticut State University in 1997.
CCSU’s current president, Zulma Toro says, “As the first Latina president of CCSU, it is so wonderful to see Dr. Cardona forge new paths in education for the Latino community.”