Miguel Cardona: Connecticut’s Commissioner of Education-designate on August 7, 2019. Miguel A. Cardona Miguel A. Cardona is a lifelong resident of Meriden. He attended Meriden Public Schools and attended UCONN where he received his Masters, 6th Year Certificate through UCAPP, Doctorate in Education, and Executive Leadership Program (093) Certificate. After serving as a teacher, Miguel began his administrative career as a school principal in Meriden in 2003. He served in this role for ten years. In 2012, Miguel won the 2012 National Distinguished Principal Award for the State of CT and the Outstanding Administrator Award from the NEAG School of Education. He currently serves as Meriden Public School’s Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Cardona serves as the Co-Chairperson of the CT Legislative Achievement Gap Task Force. Here, with the entire Task Force, he works with various State agencies and community partners to address factors that lead to home, family, and school disparities with our most vulnerable populations. He also serves as Co-Chairperson of the CT Birth to Grade Three Leaders Council whose work it is to advocate for effective early childhood programming in an effort to help all children be prepared for success in school. Miguel serves on the Professional Evaluation Advisory Council to the CT State Board of Education and State Department of Education. This group is tasked with recommending to the State Board of Education revisions to the support and evaluation plan. His work in teacher evaluation has given him the opportunity to present with the AFT and CEA in CT, Texas, and Chicago. Dr. Cardona also teaches as an adjunct professor at UCONN in the Educational Leadership Department and enjoys working with prospective leaders in the state. A lifelong Meriden resident, and product of its public schools, Miguel is very active in his community having served or currently serving on the following Boards: United Way, Chrysalis, Boys and Girls Club, Meriden Hispanic Foundation, and Meriden Puerto Rican Festival Committee. He sees his professional employment as an extension of his passion to improve his city. Miguel has had several articles published in AASPA Perspective, National School Boards Association, District Administration and the Scholars Strategy Network. His greatest source of pride, however, is his family. Miguel and his beautiful wife Marissa are the proud parents of Miguel Jr., age 14, and Celine, age 12. Recent TEACH CT Showcase with Bio information and Pictures https://connecticut.teach.org/articles/teaching-extension-your-lifes-purpose