The Puerto Rican Miguel Cardona, flattered after his appointment to Federal Education: “The public school is the great social leveler”

Washington dc – When presented as a candidate for the United States Secretary of Education, Puerto Rican Miguel Cardona today acknowledged the challenges posed by education by the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted the public school as “the great social leveler.”

“We are still starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel, we also know that this crisis is ongoing, that we will bear its impact for years to come and that the problems and inequalities that have plagued our education system since long before VOCID will remain with us even after the virus is eradicated “, Said Cardona, the current Commissioner of Education for the state of Connecticut, and whom President-elect Joe Biden described as “The Secretary of Education for the moment”.

Cardona, Biden noted, not only made sure that every student in his state had computers and an Internet connection to receive education remotely, but then led the process toward a safe reopening of Connecticut public schools. .

Biden has called on Americans to commit to wearing masks and promoting the reopening of most public schools during the first 100 days of his tenure, which begins Jan. 20.

“Reopening schools safely will be a national priority in the Biden-Harris administration. Early next year, I will present to Congress our plans for what’s to come next. This includes funding to keep educators at work. as we did during the Recovery Act, which saved 400,000 educational jobs, and includes asking Congress to provide the funds we need to achieve an ambitious but feasible goal: to safely open most schools in the end of our first 100 days, “he said.

If confirmed, Cardona, 45 and a doctor of education, would be the second U.S. Secretary of Education of Puerto Rican descent. The first was John King, who is of Puerto Rican mother and was appointed by then-President Barack Obama. King posted a message of support for Cardona last night.

Born in Meriden, Connecticut, Cardona’s parents – Hector and Sara Cardona, are natives of Aguada, Puerto Rico. In his message he also mentioned his grandparents, who brought his family to Connecticut, and maintained that “being bilingual and bicultural, I am as American as the ‘foot’ of apple and rice with beans.” .

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

Cardona said that in the midst of the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it is time to open new opportunities i “Building something better than what we had.” “A pandemic should not be necessary for us to realize the importance of teachers in this country”, He said.

“I have been blessed to attend the public schools in my hometown, Meriden, Connecticut,” Cardona added, noting that she grew up in a public housing community and from an early age in her life her parents they instilled “the importance of hard work, of serving the community, and of education.”

Speaking about the challenges he will face as Secretary of Education, Cardona indicated in Spanish that “That union makes strength”.

Biden reaffirms promises

In his message, Biden reaffirmed his promise to promote raising teachers ’salaries, forgiving up to $ 10,000 in student debt and granting free tuition to high school students at public universities whose families have incomes of less than $ 125,000.

Biden announced last night his intention to appoint Cardona as the next U.S. Secretary of Education.

“Miquel Cardona, United States will have an experienced and avant-garde public school teacher in the Department of Education“Ensuring that every student is equipped to thrive in the economy of the future, that every educator has the resources he or she needs to function with dignity and success, and that every school is prepared to reopen safely,” said Biden. noted that Cardona is “brilliant, qualified and proven.”

For her part, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris stated that the Puerto Rican educator “is not only an experienced public servant, he is also a former public school teacher and administrator who understands what our students, teachers and schools they need to succeed “.

“It’s a historic selection,” said Puerto Rican Democratic Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (New York), noting that Cardona understands how to respond to the needs of schools in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. represents a contrast to outgoing secretary Betsy DeVos.

Boricua Cardona would be the third Hispanic selected by Biden for his cabinet. The other two are Xavier Becerra, who will be proposed as Secretary of Health, and Alejandro Mayorkas, whom Biden selected for the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Former Secretary King said Cardona’s experience of learning English while starting school and being the first in her family to go to university, “is inspiring and reflects the experiences of many students.”

The current Connecticut Commissioner of Education has had the support of the Hispanic Congress Caucus, the Power4PuertoRico coalition and the Hispanic Federation, among other groups.

A few days ago, the Connecticut government announced that beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, its public education system will begin offering an elective course to high school students on African American, black, Latino, and port studies. -Richenians.