John B. King Jr.

John B. King Jr.
Name	John B. King Jr.
Birth date	March 22, 1975
Birth place	Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Attorney, educator, public official
Office	10th United States Secretary of Education
Term start	March 14, 2016
Term end	January 20, 2017
Predecessor	Arne Duncan
Successor	Betsy DeVos
Alma mater	Harvard University (A.B.), Yale Law School (J.D.), Teachers College, Columbia University (Ed.M.)

John B. King Jr. is an American attorney, educator, and public official who served as the 10th United States Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama. He previously served as the United States Deputy Secretary of Education and as New York State Education Commissioner under Governor Andrew Cuomo. King's career bridges roles in state education leadership, federal policy, civil rights law, and nonprofit advocacy.

Early life and education

King was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and raised in New York City neighborhoods including Queens, where his parents emigrated from Puerto Rico. He attended Harvard University, earning an A.B., and completed a J.D. at Yale Law School followed by an Ed.M. at Teachers College, Columbia University. During his studies he engaged with organizations such as Teach For America and worked on issues connected to Brown v. Board of Education-era civil rights legacies and contemporary schooling debates influenced by scholars at Columbia University and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Early career and legal work

After law school, King clerked and practiced as an attorney with a focus on civil rights and education law, including litigation in venues such as the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and engagement with groups like the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He served in the New York City Department of Education under Chancellor Joel Klein and contributed to initiatives connected to the No Child Left Behind Act era and Every Student Succeeds Act discussions. King also taught in schools influenced by networks such as New Visions for Public Schools and worked on policy intersecting with the U.S. Department of Justice and state education agencies.

Political career and New York State roles

King's political trajectory advanced in New York State where he held roles in the Administration of Governor Andrew Cuomo including as Deputy Commissioner and later as Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York's Board of Regents. In those positions he managed relations with entities such as the New York State Education Department, the New York State Board of Regents, and local school districts including New York City Department of Education. His tenure addressed controversies involving testing policy, ties to Mayor Bill de Blasio, and responses to investigations by the New York State Attorney General. King coordinated with state legislators in the New York State Legislature and engaged with teacher organizations including the United Federation of Teachers and national groups like the National Education Association.

U.S. Department of Education and Secretaryship

King served as United States Deputy Secretary of Education under Secretary Arne Duncan before his nomination and confirmation as Secretary of Education by the United States Senate in 2016 during the final year of the Obama Administration. As Secretary he focused on civil rights enforcement under statutes related to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, student loan policy amid discussions with the Federal Student Aid office, and initiatives tied to P-12 priorities and higher education accountability debated alongside leaders from Ivy League institutions and public university systems such as the California State University and the University of North Carolina system. King worked on federal responses to the Every Student Succeeds Act implementation, negotiated with stakeholders including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and engaged in interagency work with the U.S. Department of Labor on workforce development and with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on early childhood programs. His confirmation and policy agenda were discussed in hearings before committees chaired by members of the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Post-government career and advocacy

After leaving the Cabinet, King joined nonprofit and philanthropic efforts, partnering with organizations such as the Schott Foundation for Public Education and the Education Trust and collaborating with higher education leaders at institutions like Princeton University and Columbia University. He served in leadership roles at national advocacy organizations focused on civil rights, educational opportunity, and criminal justice reform, engaging with networks including the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and workforce initiatives connected to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. King has lectured at law schools and graduate schools of education, participated in forums with groups like the Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute, and joined campaigns addressing student debt with coalitions that include the Center for American Progress and state attorneys general offices.

Personal life and honors

King is married and has family ties to Puerto Rico. His honors include recognitions from education associations and civil rights groups, and he has been profiled by media outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. He has served on advisory boards for institutions including Teachers College, Columbia University and nonprofit boards connected to urban schooling and legal advocacy.

Category:1975 births Category:United States Secretaries of Education Category:American lawyers Category:People from Worcester, Massachusetts