Our hardest and most important work lies ahead," said Secretary Cardona in the address. 5537. [1] "I think that's almost secondary to the important role that I have as Secretary of Education," Cardona responded. "[18], Cardona appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on February 3, 2021. ", "It's critically important that we make sure all students feel safe in their school environment," Cardona responded. Secretary Cardona is one of three children, whose parents moved from Puerto Rico in the 1960s for better opportunities in the mainland United States. That day, I ended up in the nurses office crying, and I had to go home early. . ", "In your inaugural address before the American people you said, to overcome these challenges- to restore the soul and to secure the future of America-requires more than words. Market data provided by Factset. So, you cant please everybody in that position. Michael Cardonas father and Hector Cardona are first cousins. I was like, Really? But Cardona also excelled at the light-hearted parts of the job. And we thought, Wheres he going to go from here? And the next thing you know a year later he gets a call from Washington.U.S. But this latest accomplishment means more than they couldve imagined. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The state changed course and offered the job to Dr. Miguel Cardona, according to FOX61. Cardona is set to be part of a historically diverse cabinet and his parents hope it sends a message to children in our state and worldwide. Very proud, proud daddy. Cardona was born on born July 11, 1975, in Meriden, Connecticut, United States. "Reopening schoolsand keeping them openwhile critical, is insufficient. Hector Cardona wanted some indication that if he did shave hed get the job, but no such assurance was forthcoming. Cardonas experience navigating state-level politics as commissioner might be limited, but that doesnt mean hes avoided dealing with common snares in school leadership. His reputation as a bridge builder was quickly tested by the coronavirus pandemic. And we thought, Wheres he going to go from here? And the next thing you know a year later he gets a call from Washington. Our mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. He thinks from the heart. Late Monday, in a 64 to 33 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Miguel Cardona to be the next secretary of education. Rather, he said, Cardona is comfortable in his own skin and knows how to reach a goal without making the process all about his desires. That experience, and his bicultural upbringing, have helped shape Secretary Cardona's passion to serve all students and improve their opportunities for success. President Biden speaks about the government's COVID-19 response in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022. In this role, Secretary Cardona faced the unprecedented challenge of responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and led safe school reopening efforts in the state. And he wouldnt do anything to the kids that he wouldnt do to his own kids. He is passionate and caring, and people know that about him. I joke with Miguel: Your kids, your wife, they have the real music talent. Cardona served as the co-chairperson of the Connecticut Legislative Achievement Gap Task Force as well as co-chairperson of the Connecticut Birth to Grade Three Leaders Council. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks next to wife Marissa and children, Miguel Jr., 16, and Celine 14, of Meriden, during a livestream event at Maloney High School in January following his nomination. He began his career as an elementary school teacher and went on to serve as an elementary school principal, leading a school that included outstanding programming for 3- to 5-year-old students with developmental delays, students with autism and other sensory needs, and students enrolled in the district's bilingual education program. Obituaries Market data provided by Factset. 'A Nation at Risk' created a faux crisis to usher in the right's education agenda, argues Bettina L. Love. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Marissa Perez was Miss Connecticut in 2001. To be honest, if he doesnt have a nice team around him, I think hes going to be in for a challenge, she said. Legal Statement. When he earned his doctorate from the University of Connecticut in 2012, his research focused on addressing achievement disparities between English-language learners and their peers. I think hell move things forward. Seeing her frustration, Cardona helped her rearrange the schedule of teachers aides to bring in more support. Twitter: @jefferykurz. Washington American students' global competitiveness is at risk as divisive efforts take hold across the United States to ban books, restrict curriculum, and penalize teachers for talking about. He was a principal there for 10 years and was named the state's principal of the year in 2012. September 7, 2022 | Washington. Sitting down recently to talk about the experience, the couple wasinterrupted occasionally by a punctuating bark from Taco, a 10-year-old Chihuahua, and a chiming wall clock that Hector picked up at a tag sale. Wrong username or password. Im just concerned about the experience, or lack thereof. Several Republican elected officials criticized the letter's reference to domestic terrorism and called for Cardona to resign. What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack? Secretary Cardona's focus throughout his career on raising the bar for equity and excellence in education for all learners guides his leadership of the U.S. Department of Education in service of the nation's 65 million students, ranging from prekindergarten to adult learners, and their families. Thats a sign, in her view, that he doesnt do well under pressure. Although she said she likes Cardona on a personal level, Samuel worries that tentative approach, along with the fact that hes never been a district superintendent and hasnt been state education commissioner very long, could lead him to be pulled apart by nasty Beltway fights. This content is provided by our sponsor. You dont always see that.. (Photographer: Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images). Lori Lightfoot pleads with Gov. We worked on that, Rabinowitz recalled. But it brings Meriden to the map and our hometown in Puerto Rico, said Hector Manuel Cardona, Dr. Miguel Cardonas father. But not everyone views Cardonas approach to controversial education issues as encouraging. Because of the American Rescue Plan, guidance from the Department of Education and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, expanded access to tests and testing resources, and the hard work of educators, families, district leaders, and school communities, America's students have returned to classrooms across the country. Not just the students we serve today, but for those who have yet to be born. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He has fully earned this place as one of the family's top threats. Our task is not only to improve our education system from where it was before the pandemic, but also to take bolder action to elevate it to lead the world.". Erin Benham, now a member of the state board of education, first encountered Cardona when she was the leader of the Meriden teachers union and visited his school to discuss potential layoffs as a result of budget cuts. In a speech after Biden announced him, Cardona listed problems in education that have persisted for far too long, including students graduating from high school without any idea of how to meaningfully engage in the workforce, a lack of respect for the teaching profession, and the use of Band-aids to address disparities instead of broad, systemic solutions. His choice was met with enthusiasm from education groups across the ideological spectrum. All rights reserved, Bill Aims to Curb Pedestrian Fatalities on Conn. Miguel Cardona remembers how overwhelmed he felt when he walked into school for the first time as a student. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I told him when he was commissioner youre not going to please everybody, said her husband. Secretary Cardona's approach to leadership in Connecticut focused on partnerships: within his Education Department, between state agencies, and with local boards, educator unions, school administrator associations, child advocates, and most importantly, students and families. In 2003, at Hanover Elementary School, he was promoted and made the youngest principal in the state's history for ten years. Carlene Pacheco, a paraprofessional, Title VI liaison and family service specialist at Churchill County High School, has been honored with the 2023 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) award. All rights reserved. MERIDEN Rain didnt stop the community from enjoying the live entertainment, parade, food, and cra MERIDEN Public discussions on a local farms request for American Rescue Plan Act funds to allow MERIDEN The 43rd annual Daffodil Festival kicks off Saturday morning and runs through early Sunday "He thinks from the heart. But some of the challenges went beyond numbers and logistics, and tested Cardonas ability to be thoughtful while also acting swiftly. But what has already been stated above likely suffices to prove the point. Mon., May 01, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Because hes going to have to take positions on things. Miguel Cardona speaks after President-elect Joe Biden announced his nomination for Education Secretary at the Queen theater on Dec. 23, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware. You may have a seat. The Biden transition team did not respond to a request to interview Cardona for this article. As Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced new school . Making things more intense: a presidential transition marred by national turmoil, a deeply divided nation, and an ongoing public health crisis that puts schools front and center. Over the last two years, Secretary Cardona led the nation's efforts to safely and successfully reopen schools for in-person learning, going from only 46 percent of school buildings open when President Biden took office to nearly 100 percent open just nine months later, while distributing historic federal education funding for P-12 schools and colleges; working to increase higher education access, affordability, and student success; and leading unprecedented federal efforts to transform the country's student loan system. I think thats fared well for all of their children as they all turned out to be responsible and caring adults.. "Our students' success is at stake. The doors are always open. [4][5] Cardona grew up speaking Spanish as his first language and struggled to learn English when starting kindergarten. He attributes his success in Connecticut, in part, to those strong partnerships. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! His father, Hector Cardona Sr., was a police officer for many years and famous for his distinctive handlebar mustache and for building relationships between law enforcement and Meridens Puerto Rican community. "Do you believe allowing biological males to enter women's private spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms is safe for female students? Im very excited. His overall education philosophyand strategy for the healing of our nationincludes access to the best music and arts programs for all students across the nation. You can do it if you want. Overcoming his early anxieties and the awareness that he was different from many of his peers, Cardona eventually became a first-generation college graduate and developed the confidence and people skills that helped him feel comfortable in places from the barrio to the boardroom, he told his Meriden colleagues at the farewell celebration. or redistributed. American politician. His mother had to pick him up. Please try again. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was met with questions about education policy, rather than spending priorities, when presenting a $90-billion education budget to a House subcommittee on April . Cardona, a native of Connecticut, has most recently served as the state's commissioner of education. "In the aftermath of this letter and the fierce blowback it caused, Secretary Cardona rewarded Viola Garcia, the NSBA President and co-signer of the letter, with an appointment to the National Assessment Governing Board," the lawmakers continued, pointing out that Cardona said Garcia and other appointees bring a "necessary" perspective. He gave a very scholarly presentation but at the end, he talked about his own family and his upbringing in Meriden. Cardonas speedy rise from district administrator to state chief to potential cabinet official took some in Connecticut by surprise. To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! Boldly address opportunity and achievement gaps. Hear from K-12 educational leaders and explore standards-based grading benefits and implementation strategies and challenges, Tue., June 06, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Clyde asked Cardona to defend the proposal by first defining "what is a woman. By choosing Cardona over the two, Biden "appeared to have sidestepped any sibling rivalry between the NEA and AFT. Houston Keene is a politics writer for Fox News Digital. U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona toured Avondale Elementary in Franklinton, and attended a discussion at Columbus State. Two months after his induction into the citys Hall of Fame, Hector Cardona was there when the final section of the Mills was torn down. Increasing funding for Title I schools and for IDEA in order to close gaps in access to educational opportunity, Providing every family the opportunity to start on a level playing field through free, universal pre-K and affordable high-quality child care, Investing in, recruiting, and supporting the professional development of a diverse educator workforce, including special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and bilingual educators so education jobs are ones that people from all backgrounds want to pursue, Challenging states and districts to fix broken systems that may perpetuate inequities in our schools. "You haven't given me that. Ensure pathways through higher education lead to successful careers. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Dr. Miguel A. Cardona was sworn in as the 12th U.S. Secretary of Education on March 2, 2021. The offer letter set a salary at $192,500. Roads, Periods of Rain This Morning Clear, Isolated Showers Possible This Afternoon & Tonight, Man Killed in Rollover Crash on I-691 West in Meriden, State Police Ask for Help Identifying Pedestrian Struck, Killed on Route 9 South in Middletown, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. In October, Cardona emailed the group about putting the band back together, attaching a new study on housing policy and educational outcomes. Some teachers have criticized his approach, saying hes put lives at risk by putting too much emphasis on in-person instruction and not enough on remote learning. A member of the Democratic Party, he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 6433 on March 1, 2021. Cardonas peers paint him as a leader who seeks out every chance to collaborate and to find solutions by looking at the bigger picture. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., shared a tense exchange with Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Tuesday after Cardona repeatedly refused to define "woman" or definitively explain the extent of "equal access" for transgender students under the Biden administration'snew Title IX rules. When President Biden assumed office, just 46% of America's schools were open full-time in person. "I know they sacrificed a lot as parents to make sure their children had a lifestyle they were not able to have growing up,". Miguel Cardona is surrounded by his wife and two children in 2019 as he is sworn in as Connecticut's education commissioner by Lt. Gov. It was also at this time that she met Hector. "By soliciting this letter, having their department spokesperson deny the solicitation despite the clear and irrefutable evidence, as well as appointing the letters co-signer to a national education board and praising their credentials, Secretary Cardona demonstrated a complete lack of judgement, a divisive approach to his position, and a betrayal of the public trust," they wrote. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Marissa Perez was born on February 28, 1978 to Luis and Natalia Perez. Cardona was skilled at creating an inclusive culture, and he helped her sharpen her problem-solving skills by considering the bigger picture, she said. I dont think that hes just a pragmatic, nuts and bolts guy, said Freeman, the Guilford superintendent. [26], Miguel Cardona speaks on his vision for the, Connecticut State Department of Education, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Miguel A. Cardona, of Connecticut, to be Secretary of Education)", "The state's new education commissioner: collaborator, listener, hard worker", "Biden To Pick Connecticut Schools Chief Miguel Cardona As Education Secretary", "Registered Voters in the State of Connecticut, U.S.A.", "Biden picks Connecticut schools chief as education secretary", "Who is Miguel Cardona? You haven't answered my question.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Benham, Cardona, and other district leaders traveled to observe evaluation systems in other states. [11][12], Cardona's dissertation, titled Sharpening the Focus of Political Will to Address Achievement Disparities, studied the gaps between English-language learners and their classmates. (Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images). Create a free account to save your favorite articles, follow important topics, sign up for email newsletters, and more. And in between, he was Connecticuts education commissioner. After completing his bachelors degree at Central Connecticut State University in 1997, Cardona took a job teaching 4th grade in Meriden, where its not uncommon for alumni to return as teachers. And his push for schools to administer mandatory state exams despite the pandemic wont sit well with some if he makes that a priority at the Education Department. Caffrey told me, Go shave and come back, Cardona told the Record-Journal after Caffrey died, in 2016. A Record-Journal story about his retirement called him the citys most recognizable police officer.. A native of Meriden, Connecticut, Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden. [7] Cardona was raised in a housing project in Meriden and graduated from the H.C. Wilcox Technical High School, where he was a part of the automotive studies program. Jason Rojas, a state legislator who served on the committee, said he and Cardona had similar childhoods, which gave them personal insights into some of the issues they discussed.

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