Cardona, whose parents moved from Puerto Rico to Connecticut, would be another prominent Latino in the cabinet if confirmed by the United States Senate. Biden said Cardona “understands the deep roots of inequality that exist as a source of our persistent opportunity gaps. He understands the transformative power that comes from investing in education.”
Cardona said that as a commissioner of education, a father at a public school and a former teacher at a public school, he understands how challenging this year has been for students, educators and parents.
“It took some of our most painful and old disparities and opened them up even more,” said Cardona, speaking publicly for the first time as a candidate for Biden. He said that “for many students, your postal code and your skin color remain the best indicators of the opportunities you will have in life”.
He added: “Although we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, we also know that this crisis is ongoing, that it will have its impacts in the coming years and that the problems and inequalities that have been affecting our education system since long before Covid still be with us even after the virus is gone. ”
Biden reiterated on Wednesday that reopening schools safely would be a national priority for his administration and spoke about the challenges that students, educators and administrators faced in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“They worry. They are under stress. They increase local budgets, which has left educators unemployed,” said Biden.
Biden promised to pressure Congress to provide Americans with additional economic relief, including funding to “keep educators working”.
CNN was the first to report that Cardona would be nominated for the role.
Cardona was appointed Connecticut Education Commissioner by Democratic Governor Ned Lamont in August 2019. He took office with two decades of experience as an educator at a public school in the city of Meriden, according to the state government website, after starting her career as an elementary school teacher and later serving for 10 years as a school principal. In 2013, Cardona became assistant superintendent of teaching and learning.
The Hispanic Caucus Congress urged the elected president to select him. Throughout the Cabinet selection process, Biden faced pressure to fulfill his promise to nominate people who reflected America’s diversity.
Biden said that taking children back to school safely is one of his top priorities when he takes office in January. In a recent speech outlining his plan to tackle the pandemic, he said that if Congress provides the necessary funding to protect students, educators and staff and if Americans follow strong public health measures, “my team will work to ensure that the majority of our schools can be opened until the end of my first 100 days. “
During his presidential campaign, Biden proposed securing two free years of community college or other training as part of a higher education plan that would also aim to cut student loan obligations. His plan includes new spending aimed at improving access to college for low-income individuals, minorities and undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.