President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Connecticut education commissioner Miguel Cardona as U.S. education secretary.
CNN reports that Biden has pledged to select a schoolteacher to serve as education secretary. Cardona fits that bill, starting his career nearly two decades ago as an elementary school teacher in Connecticut before becoming a principal. He was named the state's top education official in August 2019.
Biden has set a goal of reopening most schools within the first 100 days of taking office. Cardona has been a leading proponent of sending children back to school, saying too many students are falling behind during virtual learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Cardona, whose parents moved from Puerto Rico to Connecticut, would be another high-profile Latino in the Cabinet if confirmed by the Senate. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has urged Biden to select Cardona.
A formal announcement could come as early as Wednesday.
Cardona was appointed Connecticut's commissioner of education in August 2019. He came to the role with two decades of experience as a public school educator from the city of Meriden after beginning his career as an elementary school teacher. He later served for 10 years as a principal. In 2013, Cardona became the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning.
Biden has said that getting kids safely back to school is one of his priorities. In a recent speech, he said that if Congress provides the necessary funding to protect students, educators and staff and Americans follow strong public health measures, "my team will work to see that a majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days."
