Joe Biden announces his intention to appoint Puerto Rican Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education

Washington DC – The elected president, Joe Biden, announced tonight its intention to appoint Puerto Rican Miguel Cardona – Connecticut Commissioner of Education – as the next United States Secretary of Education.

“In Miguel Cardona, the United States will have an experienced and dedicated public school teacher who will be at the forefront of the Department of Education, ensuring that every student is equipped to thrive in the economy of the future, that every teacher has the resources they need to do their job with dignity and success, and that every school is ready to reopen safely ” said Biden, who wants to open most schools during their first 100 days at the White House.

As of last week, Cardona – the first Latino to be Connecticut’s education commissioner – has remained one of the favorites for the position. He received the support of his state’s teacher organizations.

If confirmed by the United States SenateCardona, whose parents were born in Puerto Rico and are from Aguada, is said to be the second Puerto Rican to hold the position. The first was John King, who is of Puerto Rican mother and was appointed by the then president Barack Obama.

Biden added that “as a lifelong public education advocate, he understands that our children are the ropes of the chiringas that uphold our national ambitions, and that everything that will be possible for our country tomorrow will be thanks to the investment. that we do and the care that our educators and our schools provide ”.

For its part, the elected vice president, Kamala Harris, affirmed that the Puerto Rican educator “is not only a skilled public servant, he is also a former teacher and public school administrator who understands what our students, teachers and schools need to be successful.”

“It’s a historic selection,” said the Puerto Rican Democratic congressman. Nydia Velázquez (New York), noting that Cardona understands how to respond to the needs of schools during the coronavirus pandemic and contrasts with the outgoing secretary, Betsy DeVos.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for her part, commented that “(Cardona’s) track record of success during the coronavirus crisis makes him fit to lead President-elect Biden’s mission to safely reopen our schools.”

The Democratic Senator Chris Murphy (Connecticut) claimed in a tweet that his friend “Miguel Cardona is everything you could want in a Secretary of Education. A teacher in the classroom, a fighter for educational equality, a consensus builder. That’s why he rose through the ranks quickly ”.

Cardona has led his state in the process of reopening schools amid the pandemic of the coronavirus, an issue on which you as education minister – even when decisions are in the hands of state governments and local education councils – will have a lot of influence.

As a Connecticut Commissioner of Education, the Puerto Rican educator has promoted a return to face-to-face classes during the coronavirus pandemic, recognizing that the spread of the virus in schools is very low and the risks are minimal compared to the problems faced. generates virtual education.

Puerto Rican Cardona is said to be the third Hispanic to be selected for his cabinet by Biden. The other two are Xavier Becerra, who will be proposed as Health Minister, and Alejandro Mayorkas, who has been selected by Biden as Secretary of Homeland Security.

The current Connecticut education commissioner has had the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Power4PuertoRico coalition, and the Hispanic Federation, among others.

In a letter to Biden sent last week, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus stated that “Cardona’s track record shows that he is qualified to lead the Department of Education” and stressed that “as a Puerto Rican leader he will provide a valuable and diverse voice. to the cabinet “.

The son of Puerto Rican parents who lived in council housing, Dr. Cardona brings valuable perspective and a track record of achievements as a public school teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, adjunct professor, and Connecticut’s first Latino Education Commissioner. We look forward to working closely with Dr. Cardona to promote Latino excellence in education and improve the lives of all American families, ”said Joaquín Castro (Texas) in a joint statement, in a joint statement, and Raúl Ruiz (California).

“Our nation urgently needs an educational leader who not only has an ear to the ground but has directly dealt with a number of systemic educational injustices that are a legacy of racism,” Erica González, director of Power4PuertoRico, said when referring. to “decades of divestment and under-funding in black and brown communities”, including English language learners (ELL) and students with disabilities.

Cardona – who has a PhD in Education from the University of Connecticut, grew up in a public housing community in the town of Meriden.

When she entered kindergarten, she spoke only Spanish, so she knows firsthand “the challenges and stigma” of the ELL program, González said.

Commissioner Cardona began his career as a teacher in the fourth grade. At the age of 28, he became the youngest principal in the state. In 2012 he was named Connecticut Principal of the Year.

A few days ago, the Connecticut government announced that from the 2021-2022 school year, the public education system will begin offering an elective course for high school students on African American, Black, Latino, and Puerto Rican studies.

“I don’t miss the importance of being the grandson of a tobacco farmer who came here in search of a better life, who despite a second degree education was able to raise his family and create that cycle of upward mobility,” he said. . Cardona, in a 2019 interview with the Connecticut Mirror.

Cardona was also an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut in the Department of Educational Leadership, co-chair of the Legislative Task Force on the Achievement Gap in Connecticut.