Miguel Cardona Bio
Miguel Angel Cardona (born July 11, 1975) is an American educator and government official who served as the 12th United States Secretary of Education under President Joe Biden from March 2, 2021 to January 20, 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as Connecticut’s commissioner of education from 2019 to 2021. He is widely recognized for his long career in public education and his focus on closing achievement gaps for English-language learners.
A native of Meriden, Connecticut, Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher and rose to become the youngest principal in the state at age 27. He later led the Connecticut State Department of Education before being nominated by President Biden to lead the U.S. Department of Education in early 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Science in education from Central Connecticut State University and multiple graduate degrees, including a doctor of education from the University of Connecticut.
Early Life and Background
Miguel Cardona was born on July 11, 1975, in Meriden, Connecticut, to Puerto Rican parents. He grew up speaking Spanish as his first language and began learning English when he entered kindergarten. Cardona was raised in a housing project in Meriden, where he attended local public schools and developed an early appreciation for community and learning.
His father is a retired police officer in Meriden, and the family has long ties to the city. Cardona graduated from H. C. Wilcox Technical High School, where he was part of the automotive studies program. He has continued to stay connected to his high school, returning as a guest speaker for the class of 2023 and remaining a visible supporter of his hometown schools.
Cardona earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Central Connecticut State University in 1997. He later completed a Master of Science in bilingual and bicultural education at the University of Connecticut in 2001, a sixth-year professional certification in 2004, and a Doctor of Education in 2011. His doctoral dissertation, titled Sharpening the Focus of Political Will to Address Achievement Disparities, focused on the gaps between English-language learners and their classmates, a topic that would shape his career.
Path to US Politics
Cardona’s path to national public service began in the classroom, where he built a reputation as a committed educator and school leader. After teaching fourth grade at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden, he was promoted in 2003 to principal of Hanover Elementary School, making him the youngest principal in the state of Connecticut at age 27. He held that role for several years before moving into central-office leadership.
From 2015 to 2019, Cardona served as assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in Meriden, gaining experience managing district-wide instruction. During this period, he also worked as an adjunct professor of education in the University of Connecticut’s Department of Educational Leadership, mentoring future school administrators while continuing to advocate for English-language learners and underserved students.
In August 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont appointed Cardona as commissioner of education, making him the first Latino to hold the position. As commissioner, he led the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in schools and raised concerns about the long-term mental health impacts of remote education on students, drawing attention to the broader well-being of children during school disruptions.
Miguel Cardona Career
Early Career (1997–2014)
Miguel Angel Cardona began his career in education shortly after graduating from college, working as an elementary school teacher in his hometown of Meriden, Connecticut. His early years in the classroom helped him build a deep understanding of the needs of students, particularly those from immigrant families and English-language learners, that informed his later leadership roles.
His reputation as a hands-on instructional leader led to his appointment in 2003 as principal of Hanover Elementary School in Meriden, the youngest principal in the state at the time. He spent more than a decade in school leadership, focusing on improving instruction, supporting teachers, and raising student achievement. These early experiences shaped his approach to statewide education policy and prepared him for senior leadership roles.
Connecticut Commissioner of Education (2019–2021)
As Connecticut’s education commissioner from 2019 to 2021, Cardona oversaw the state’s public school system at a time of extraordinary challenge. He helped guide schools through the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic and worked to address learning loss, mental health concerns, and equity gaps that the crisis exposed and intensified across districts.
His tenure drew national attention for its focus on equity and support for English-language learners, a long-standing priority in his career. By early 2021, Cardona had emerged as a leading candidate to lead the U.S. Department of Education under President Joe Biden, citing his classroom experience and his track record as a state-level education leader.
U.S. Secretary of Education (2021–2025)
Cardona was nominated by President Joe Biden in late 2020 to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. He appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on February 3, 2021, and his nomination advanced on a cloture vote of 66–32. The U.S. Senate confirmed him on March 1, 2021, by a vote of 64–33. He was ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 2, 2021, becoming the 12th United States Secretary of Education.
Throughout his tenure, Cardona prioritized student loan relief, pandemic recovery, and narrowing achievement gaps. His administration oversaw the implementation of several targeted student loan forgiveness programs after the Supreme Court’s June 30, 2023, ruling in Biden v. Nebraska struck down a broader $430 billion forgiveness plan. By December 2023, the Department of Education reported that it had forgiven about $132 billion in student debt during the administration’s first three years and highlighted the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for borrowers in full-time public service.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cardona’s tenure was marked by major federal efforts on student debt and college affordability, as well as controversy over the rollout of a simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in late 2023. After a two-month delay, the new form was released in December 2023, and by late March 2024, a backlog of roughly 6 million applications had built up, prompting congressional hearings in April and May 2024, at which Cardona apologized for the troubled launch. At President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address, Cardona served as the designated survivor.
Miguel Cardona Career Wins
Miguel Angel Cardona’s career is defined by pioneering leadership milestones in American education. He was named the youngest principal in Connecticut at age 27, became the first Latino commissioner of education in the state, and rose to serve as the 12th United States Secretary of Education. His path from a fourth-grade classroom in Meriden to the national stage reflects a steady record of advancement and responsibility.
Federal Education Leadership Highlights
At the federal level, Cardona led the U.S. Department of Education from 2021 to 2025, overseeing significant student loan relief efforts, including the forgiveness of approximately $132 billion in student debt in the administration’s first three years. He also guided the department’s response to pandemic-related learning loss and championed investments in K-12 schools and college affordability.
Other Wins & Achievements
Earlier in his career, Cardona earned recognition for his work on equity for English-language learners, both as a school leader in Meriden and as Connecticut’s education commissioner. He has been widely cited as a leading voice on bilingual education and closing achievement gaps, and he has remained active in supporting his hometown schools, including serving as a guest speaker for the class of 2023 at H. C. Wilcox Technical High School.
Miguel Cardona Family
Family Background and Public Service Lineage
Miguel Cardona was born in Meriden, Connecticut, to Puerto Rican parents and raised in a local housing project. His father is a retired police officer in Meriden, and the family has deep roots in the city. Cardona grew up speaking Spanish at home and has often spoken publicly about the role his family and community played in shaping his commitment to public education.
Personal Life
In 2002, Miguel Angel Cardona married Marissa Pérez, a family-school liaison who was named Miss Connecticut in 2001 and Miss Connecticut Teen USA in 1996. The couple has two children: a son, Miguel Jr., and a daughter, Celine. Cardona and his family are Catholic, and they have continued to live in Connecticut while he has served in public office.