Tuesday, December 22, 2020

'CONNRICAN TAPPED BY BIDEN FOR SEC. OF EDUCATION

By Laura Meckler and 
Valerie Strauss and Matt Viser
The Washington Post

President-elect Joe Biden will nominate the commissioner of public schools in Connecticut as his education secretary, settling on a low-profile candidate who has pushed to reopen schools and is not aligned with either side in education policy battles of recent years, several people familiar with the matter said.

Miguel Cardona, 45, did not enjoy the enthusiastic support of some others who were considered for the post, but he also did not draw any significant opposition. Rather, he is seen as someone who can work with people across the universe of K-12 education.

He was named Connecticut’s top schools official last year and if confirmed will have achieved a meteoric rise, moving from an assistant superintendent in his hometown of Meriden, Conn., a district with 9,000 students, to secretary of education in less than two years.

He was born in Meriden to Puerto Rican parents who lived in public housing, with a personal story the Biden team found compelling. He was the first in his family to attend college, and was raised in a Spanish-speaking home. He began his career as a fourth-grade teacher and rocketed up the ranks, becoming the state’s youngest principal at age 28. He was named the state’s principal of the year in 2012.

His two elementary school-aged daughters are public school students in Meriden, a midsize city outside of Hartford.

Two people close to the process said Biden made the offer to Cardona on Tuesday and said an announcement from the Biden transition team was expected as soon as Tuesday evening.

Cardona met virtually with Biden, his wife, Jill Biden, and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris on Monday, one person said. This person and others spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Cardona’s experience in public education represents a sharp contrast with President Trump’s education secretary, Betsy DeVos, who attended private schools and spent much of her energy advocating for alternatives to public education. And while Cardona has lived in poverty, DeVos is a billionaire who has been wealthy all her life.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

California Gov. Gavin Newsom selected Secretary of State Alex Padilla on Tuesday to be a U.S. senator, a pick that sends a Latino to the Senate for the first time in the state’s history.

A video released by Newsom’s office showed Padilla becoming emotional after Newsom, a close friend, offered him the job. Padilla reflected on the hard work of his parents, who came to the United States from Mexico and worked as a cook and a housekeeper.

“It’s a hell of an important perspective to bring to Washington,” he told Newsom.

Padilla, 47, was the favorite in a crowded field of possibilities to fill out the remainder of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ term. She plans to step down from the seat in January ahead of Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.

Padilla will need to run for a full six-year term in 2022. The appointment gives him an advantage, but he’s still likely to face challengers, some within his own party. California’s top-two primary system allows two Democrats to face off in a general election.

Anonymous said...

El Blimp is now wholesale copying & pasting his stories, Juan. He writes a shirt intro and then - boom! - comes someone else's good writing on the issue. What a loser!!!! Plus he has so many typos it's headachesville!!!!

ja ja ja

Anonymous said...

A COVID-related illness is sickening el pendejo hillbilly coco wanna be white.
Trump rally that este pendejo sponsored will be cancelled. New schule will be released after Jan 20, 2021
Ja ha Ja ha Ja Haa.

Anonymous said...

Let's hope these hispanics that are being appointed will not fall in the same rut.

Anonymous said...

WOW parece gringo que cosas...

Anonymous said...

He should have appointed Dr. Eder. He's more qualified. Dr. Eder will do anything to help our community and our country. Let's take advantage of his wisdom. All this for a fee of course. No bids allowed!

Anonymous said...

December 22, 2020 at 5:21 PM

Its a gringo gimmic put all of them in office they will hang themselves. lol BUT TRUE!

rita