(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today is applauding the announcement by President-elect Joe Biden that he is nominating Connecticut Education Commissioner Dr. Miguel Cardona to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
Governor Lamont appointed Commissioner Cardona to lead the Connecticut State Department of Education in July 2019. Immediately prior to that, he served as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in the Meriden school district, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut, where he taught courses on leadership, ranging from school improvement to culture and climate. He began his career in education as an elementary school teacher, and then served as a school principal for 10 years. In 2012, he was named Connecticut’s Principal of the Year.
Commissioner Cardona attended Meriden Public Schools and graduated from Wilcox Technical High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University, and a master’s in bilingual/bicultural education and doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut.
“Commissioner Miguel Cardona has been a guiding hand and a steady leader for Connecticut since he assumed his role at the State Department of Education,” Governor Lamont said. “His career in public education brought him to all parts of the school. From the bus to the school yard, to the classroom and the principal’s chair, Miguel has the experience necessary to lead our country’s children through this next vitally important phase.
“Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Miguel was always student-focused, identifying policies and methods to keep children engaged and learning together in their classrooms to the greatest extent as possible, all while keeping them, their families, and their teachers safe. Under his guidance, Connecticut earlier this month became the first state in the nation to ensure that every PK-12 student in our public school has access to a computer, which was a critical step in closing the digital divide as many schools moved toward remote learning.
“We are sad to lose Miguel, but this is a remarkable opportunity for him and his family. We’ve always felt Miguel was a sort of best-kept-secret, and now the entire country will understand why. We are proud of our Connecticut son as he joins the Biden-Harris administration.”
Governor Lamont will soon announce the appointment of an acting commissioner to lead the Connecticut State Department of Education. The search for a permanent commissioner will begin immediately under a process that is conducted by the Connecticut State Board of Education and ultimately approved by the governor.