Dr. John B. King, Jr. —former U.S. Secretary of Education and President and CEO of The Education Trust — is slated to teach an undergraduate course on education policy this fall as a visiting professor at the University of Maryland College of Education.
“I’m excited to be a part of the University of Maryland community, which I know is a vibrant and diverse community, and to participate in the conversation about education equity with faculty members, students, and the broader community,” King said of his appointment.
UMD officials said King, who served as education secretary under President Barack Obama from 2016 to 2017, not only brings expertise in education policy, but a commitment to equity and access to a high-quality education.
“I am delighted to have Dr. King join the UMD College of Education’s faculty,” Dean Jennifer K. Rice said. “His commitment to eliminating educational inequity and promoting excellence for every student aligns with the mission of our College, and his rich background as a teacher, principal, and leader at the state and federal levels indicates his deep commitment to addressing these issues.”
Teaching is nothing new for King, who first began his career in education as a high school social studies teacher and middle school principal.
In 2011, he became the commissioner of education for the state of New York, where he oversaw the state’s elementary and secondary schools, as well as its colleges and universities. He is the first African American and Puerto Rican to have served in this role, UMD noted in a statement.
Before serving as secretary of education under Obama, King served as deputy secretary of education — a role in which he directed the department’s operations and managed policies and programs related to P-12 education, English learners, special education, and innovation.
