By Stephen Sawchuk
John B. King Jr., a former New York state commissioner of education, will take the reins at the U.S. Department of Education following Arne Duncans departure in December.
The son of educators, King—who is Black and Puerto Rican—was orphaned at age 12. He credits his teachers in the New York City public school system with his success, saying they made sure he didnt fall through the cracks.(More in this Huffington Post piece by King.)
“New York City public school teachers are the reason that Im alive,” King said, as President Barack Obama introduced him at a news conference as his new acting education secretary. “They gave me hope about [what] could be possible for me in life.”