Miguel Cardona, the US Secretary of Education under President Joe Biden, has joined Yale University’s School of Management (SOM) faculty to teach an education policy course for the 2025-26 academic year. The appointment comes at a time when the current US administration, led by President Donald Trump, has sought to significantly reduce the role of the Department of Education. Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order directing the closure of the department and the transfer of its responsibilities to the states.Cardona’s role at Yale marks a continuation of his long-standing commitment to education, especially in equity and access. He will co-teach the elective course “Education Policy” alongside Professor Seth Zimmerman, focusing on topics such as accountability, college access, and economic returns to education.From meriden teacher to federal education leaderA native of Meriden, Connecticut, Miguel Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School. At the age of 27, he became the youngest principal in Connecticut’s history when appointed to lead Hanover Elementary School. His career progressed with roles including assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in Meriden and commissioner of the Connecticut State Department of Education — the first Latino to hold that position.Cardona’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in education from Central Connecticut State University, a Master of Science in bilingual and bicultural education, and a Doctor of Education from the University of Connecticut. His doctoral research focused on achievement disparities affecting English-language learners.Leadership during challenging timesAs Connecticut’s education commissioner, Cardona helped manage the state’s school response to the Covid-19 pandemic, voicing concerns about the mental health impact of remote learning. In the Biden administration, he has been responsible for implementing student loan forgiveness programmes, including targeted relief following the Supreme Court’s rejection of a larger loan forgiveness plan, as reported by official sources.At Yale, Cardona will also engage with The Broad Center, which focuses on K-12 public school leadership, aiming to connect with leaders across school systems. Nathan Dudley, a lecturer at SOM, highlighted Cardona’s commitment to equity and support for teachers, particularly in an era where these areas face political challenges, as quoted by the Yale Daily News.Teaching education policy amid political challengesProfessor Seth Zimmerman noted in a message to the Yale Daily News that Cardona’s experience at local, state, and federal levels will offer students valuable insights into education policymaking. Students expect the course to explore decision-making under uncertainty, with Cardona’s practical and political background bridging the gap between policy and classroom realities.Students like Roy Kohavi and Noemi Liu emphasise Cardona’s unique perspective as both a high-level leader and local practitioner, as reported by the Yale Daily News. Liu pointed out the significant divide between policy creation and classroom practice, which Cardona’s diverse career helps to address.Cardona, who married Marissa Pérez and has two children, remains a strong advocate for federal support of public and low-income schools. His move to Yale SOM reflects a continuing focus on education leadership during a politically challenging period for the sector.
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