Cardona on the Job at U.S. DOE

The United States has a new secretary of education, as the Senate confirmed Miguel Cardona in a bipartisan vote 6433 vote. According to The Washington Post, the "nomination moved through the chamber without any significant controversy."

In a letter sent to the new secretary right after his confirmation, AFSA President Ernest Logan wrote, "The past four years of mismanagement and misguided policies have left you much important work to do, particularly in working to open all schools safely and to close the achievement gap in our nation’s K12 schools."

Logan told Cardona our union is standing by to support his work: "our 20,000 members and more than 80 affiliates can partner with you to achieve our shared goals."

"Principals, as you know, are problem solvers and K12 education is in search of solutions to multiple pressing crises. Indeed, with K12 education continuing to be assailed by the pandemic and all of its attendant issuesschool closures, learning loss, student and educator mental health struggles, and continuing illness fearsyou face the toughest set of challenges that any secretary has ever faced," wrote Logan.

"I want to assure you that you have allies in AFSA and its members, who have been in their school buildings every day distributing meals, packets and devices, managing staff and facilities, and ensuring access to student services where necessary and possible," said Logan. "Like you and President Biden, we think it is critical that all students return to school safely as soon as possible, and have reasonable proposals to share with you that we think can make this wish a reality."