Statement from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona to be the secretary of education:
President-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Dr. Miguel Cardona to lead the Department of Education is a sorely needed transition away from the backward values and atrocious record of Secretary Betsy DeVos. After four long years of a billionaire lobbyist undermining our public education system at the expense of students and teachers alike, Cardona will usher in a new perspective as both a former public school teacher and a member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT).
Teachers, paraprofessionals and other school personnel are ready to return to the classroom, and we deserve leaders who will prioritize the safety of the working people who care for, inspire and empower our children. We look forward to working with President-elect Biden and Cardona to beat this virus and reopen our schools safely.
The secretary of education should be a stalwart for everyone who works in our schools and every student who learns in them. We are confident that Cardona is the right public servant at the right time, and we look forward to working with him in 2021 and beyond.
Contact: Carolyn Bobb (202) 637-5018