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Dr. Miguel Cardona.
One of President-elect Joe Biden’s campaign promises included naming a teacher as the next Secretary of Education.
Several names immediately came up including the New York-based Randi Weingarten, President of American Federation of Teachers and Lily Eskelsen García, former President of the National Education Association. But another area educator is also a contender.
Dr. Miguel Cardona is another name on Biden’s shortlist. Cardona’s parents are originally from Puerto Rico and he grew up in public housing in Meriden, Connecticut. He calls education, “the great equalizer.”
Cardona only spoke Spanish when he first entered school. After graduating from Central Connecticut State University, he started teaching fourth grade. Later in his career, he was named the 2012 Connecticut Association of Schools “National Distinguished Principal.” Since 2019, he has served the Connecticut Commissioner of the Department of Educ