Cardona, Miguel, 1975-

Miguel Angel Cardona (born July 11, 1975) is an American educator serving as the 12th United States Secretary of Education since March 1, 2021. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

A native of Meriden, Connecticut, Cardona grew up speaking Spanish as his first language and struggled to learn English when starting kindergarten. He graduated from the H.C. Wilcox Technical High School before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Central Connecticut State University in 1997. He obtained a Master of Science in bilingual and bicultural education at University of Connecticut in 2001. He would later complete a professional sixth year certification and Doctor of Education at the University of Connecticut in 2004 and 2011, respectively.

Cardona began his career as a fourth-grade teacher at Israel Putnam Elementary School in Meriden. In 2003, at the age of 27, he was named principal of Hanover School, also in Meriden, making him the youngest principal in the state. From 2015 to 2019, Cardona served as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Meridien. Cardona was also an adjunct professor of education in the University of Connecticut's Department of Educational Leadership. In August 2019, Governor Ned Lamont appointed Cardona as Commissioner of Education.

In December 2020, Cardona was nominated to be United States Secretary of Education in Joe Biden's cabinet. He appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on February 3, 2021. On February 25, his nomination was advanced by the Senate on a cloture vote of 66–32. Cardona was confirmed on March 1, 2021 by a 64–33 vote. Cardona took his oath of office on March 1, 2021 and was ceremonially sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on March 2, 2021.