Arne Duncan

Arne Duncan served as the ninth United States Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2015. A key architect of the administration's education agenda, he championed initiatives like Race to the Top and the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Prior to his federal role, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Public Schools, one of the nation's largest school districts.

Early life and education

Born in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, his mother, Sue Duncan, ran an after-school program for children on the city's South Side. He attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools before enrolling at Harvard University, where he majored in sociology and co-captained the basketball team. His collegiate experience included tutoring students at the Stride Rite program in Boston and playing professional basketball in Australia for the Eastside Spectres after graduation.

Career before U.S. Secretary of Education

Returning to Chicago, he directed the Ariel Education Initiative, which helped found the Ariel Community Academy, a public elementary school. In 1998, he joined Chicago Public Schools as Deputy Chief of Staff to CEO Paul Vallas. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the district in 2001 by Mayor Richard M. Daley, overseeing initiatives like the expansion of charter schools and the Academy for Urban School Leadership teacher residency program. His tenure focused on closing underperforming schools and launching the Renaissance 2010 plan to create new schools.

U.S. Secretary of Education (2009–2015)

Confirmed by the United States Senate with broad bipartisan support, his signature achievement was the Race to the Top program, a competitive grant initiative that encouraged states to adopt reforms like teacher evaluations tied to student data. He was a leading proponent of the Common Core State Standards Initiative and oversaw the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included significant funding for education. His department also issued waivers from provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act to states and promoted the First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. He faced criticism from both teachers' unions, including the National Education Association, and some reformers over testing policies and school turnaround models.

Post-Cabinet career

After leaving the Obama administration, he joined the University of Chicago as a distinguished senior fellow at the Harris School of Public Policy. He co-founded the Chicago CRED initiative, a violence prevention program focused on young men in neighborhoods like Englewood and Austin. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including The Aspen Institute and Lionsgate, and authored the book "How Schools Work." He remains a vocal advocate for policies like universal pre-kindergarten and community-based violence intervention.

Personal life

He is married to Karen Duncan, and they have two children. The family resides in Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood. An avid basketball player, he frequently participated in pick-up games at the Department of Education and on White House courts with President Obama and cabinet members like Education Secretary John King Jr. and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Category:United States Secretaries of Education Category:Harvard University alumni Category:People from Chicago