Association of American Educators Responds to Dr. Miguel Cardona’s
Confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Education

Mission Viejo, CA – The Association of American Educators (AAE), a national nonunion, professional association serving educators in all fifty states, congratulates and looks forward to working with the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona to ensure every child in America has access to an excellent education.

“Secretary Cardona’s commitment to students and educators while prioritizing the role of family and community presents tremendous opportunity to improve how we deliver on the promise of education to all of our students,” noted AAE’s executive director Colin Sharkey. “Along with reopening our schools safely, we look forward to working with Secretary Cardona on important issues including addressing the digital divide, increasing teacher diversity, preserving local control, supporting all learning environments, empowering parents and educators, and expanding educator association rights.”

Professional educators welcome the Biden administration’s calls for increased funding to meet the PPE needs for educators and students to return to classrooms safely and to address the learning loss that the pandemic has exacerbated. As a former educator and administrator, Secretary Cardona knows the financial costs educators have always borne out of their own pocket just to meet basic classroom needs even before the pandemic, and the additional materials and technology that have become standard in the transition to hybrid learning are also being supported directly by teachers. To that end, AAE urges the new secretary to support our proposed increase of the Educator Expense Deduction from $250 to $1,000 and expansion to include up to $400 of internet expenses.

America’s education system faces many far-reaching challenges that for too long have marginalized our most vulnerable student populations, widened the education gap, and kept many promising, gifted educators from entering the field. In the secretary’s words, “It shouldn’t take a pandemic for us to realize how important teachers are.” And AAE welcomes that spirit as we work together to include the educator voice in the decision-making process, including the many non-union educators who serve in our nation’s schools and whose voices are often excluded.

The Association of American Educators (AAE) is the largest national, nonunion, professional educator organization, advancing the profession by offering a modern approach to educator empowerment and advocacy—promoting professionalism, collaboration, and excellence without a partisan agenda. AAE is committed to a teaching profession that is student oriented, well respected, and personally fulfilling. AAE serves members in all fifty states and welcomes professionals from all education entities. Membership is $16.50 per month and includes $2 million professional liability insurance, employment rights coverage, professional resources, and many other benefits. Classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, student teachers, university professors, and supporters can learn more at aaeteachers.org.