Meriden Educator Nominated For State Commissioner

MERIDEN, CT — Dr. Miguel Cardona, currently Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in Meriden, has been nominated to serve as the commissioner of the State Department of Education, according to a statement from Gov. New Lamont.

Cardona has served in the Meriden position since 2015 and has been responsible for overseeing the instruction, teaching, leadership development and evaluation, and curriculum for the district’s 9,000 students. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut, where he teaches courses on leadership, ranging from school improvement to culture and climate.

“For more than two decades, Dr. Cardona has dedicated his career to the students of Meriden, where he was himself born, raised, and educated," Lamont said in a statement. "He firmly understands the challenges many of our urban areas face. I look forward to working with him over the coming years so we can fix some of these inequities and collaborate with educators, parents, and community leaders on providing the best outcomes for our schools and our children.”

Cardona said he was humbled by the nomination and will "work with my fellow teachers and leaders on creating the best and most effective educational system for our state’s students as possible.”

Prior to his current position, Dr. Cardona served as a Performance Evaluation Specialist with the Meriden Board of Education from 2013 to 2015, and was principal of Hanover Elementary School in Meriden from 2003 to 2013.

In 2012, he was named Connecticut’s principal of the year. He began his career in education as a fourth grade elementary school teacher.

He has also been involved with a number of professional associations, including as vice president of the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, co-chair of the Connecticut Legislative Achievement Gap Task Force and the Connecticut Early Childhood Birth to Grade Three Leaders, and is a member of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents.