John King Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John King Jr.
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King in 2016
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| 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Deborah F. Stanley (interim) |
| 10th United States Secretary of Education | |
| In office January 1, 2016 – January 20, 2017 (Acting: January 1, 2016 – March 14, 2016) |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | James Cole Jr. (acting) |
| Preceded by | Arne Duncan |
| Succeeded by | Betsy DeVos |
| United States Deputy Secretary of Education | |
| Acting January 4, 2015 – January 1, 2016 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | James H. Shelton |
| Succeeded by | Mick Zais |
| Education Commissioner of New York | |
| In office June 15, 2011 – January 4, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | David Steiner |
| Succeeded by | MaryEllen Elia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 5, 1975 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Melissa Steel |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) Columbia University (MEd, EdD) Yale University (JD) |
John B. King Jr. (born January 5, 1975) is an American educator and government official. He is currently the leader, or Chancellor, of the State University of New York (SUNY). Before this, he was the President and CEO of The Education Trust. This is a group that works to help all students, especially those who face challenges, get a good education.
King also served as the 10th United States Secretary of Education from 2016 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. In this role, he helped guide education policies for the entire country. He also served as the Commissioner of Education of the State of New York from 2011 to 2014. In 2021, King ran for governor of Maryland but did not win the primary election.
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Early Life and Education
John B. King Jr. was born in 1975 in Flatlands, Brooklyn, a part of New York City. His father, John B. King Sr., was a retired public school administrator and teacher. His mother, Adalinda King, was a school guidance counselor. John Jr. is of African-American and Puerto Rican heritage. His father was the first Black principal in Brooklyn and later became a top school official in New York City.
When John Jr. was eight years old, his mother passed away. His father developed Alzheimer's disease and passed away when John Jr. was 12. After losing both parents, King credits one of his public school teachers with helping him through this difficult time. He moved to Long Island to live with his older half-brother.
King later attended Phillips Andover, a private boarding school, but was expelled. He then moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, to live with his uncle, who was a Tuskegee Airman. From there, he applied and was accepted to Harvard University.
King's College Journey
King earned a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard in 1996. While there, he was recognized as a Truman Scholar. He also received a special fellowship to teach American history and government.
After Harvard, King earned a master's degree in teaching social studies from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1997. He then taught high school social studies.
In 1999, King helped start Roxbury Preparatory Charter School. He was a co-director there for five years. Under his leadership, students at Roxbury Prep achieved some of the highest test scores in Massachusetts. They also helped close the achievement gap between different student groups. After Roxbury Prep, King worked for Uncommon Schools. This organization runs successful public charter schools in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
King continued his education, earning a law degree from Yale Law School in 2007. In 2008, he received a doctorate in education from Columbia University. His doctoral research focused on how charter schools help students succeed.
Career in Education Leadership
John B. King Jr. has held many important roles in education. He served on the board of New Leaders for New Schools, an organization that trains school leaders.
Leading Education in New York
In 2011, King was appointed Commissioner of Education of the State of New York. This meant he was the top education official for the entire state. He also became President of the University of the State of New York (USNY). This system includes thousands of schools, colleges, libraries, and museums across New York. King was the first Black and Puerto Rican person to hold this important position.
As Commissioner, King worked to improve education in New York. He helped the state adopt Common Core standards. These are guidelines for what students should learn in different subjects. New York also created EngageNY, a website with resources for teachers.
King also worked to create a new system for evaluating teachers and school leaders. This system included how much students learned. He also helped improve how charter schools were approved and held accountable. In 2013, New York was one of the first states to use exams that measured Common Core standards.
In 2013, King held meetings across the state to hear from people about the Common Core standards. Some parents and teachers had concerns. In 2014, the state teachers' union even asked for his resignation. Despite this, King continued to work on important education issues. One of his last efforts in New York was a program to increase diversity in schools. In December 2014, King announced he would be leaving New York to join the U.S. Department of Education.
National Education Leadership
In 2011, King was appointed to a commission that advised the U.S. Department of Education on fairness in education. In January 2015, he became the Acting Deputy Secretary of Education. In this role, he helped oversee all programs for schools, English language learners, and special education.
When Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced he would leave his job, President Barack Obama chose King to take his place. President Obama said King was "the right man" to lead the Department of Education. King became Acting Secretary on January 1, 2016. On March 14, 2016, the United States Senate approved him as the official Secretary of Education. He was the second African-American and the first Afro-Latino to hold this position.
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As Secretary, King worked to put the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into action. This law replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. King believed ESSA would help provide a "well-rounded education" for all students. He wanted to make sure subjects beyond math and English were also important.
In 2016, the Department of Education released the final rules for ESSA. King said these rules gave states more freedom to help every student get a good education. He also focused on making sure schools supported all children, especially those who needed the most help.
King also worked to address school discipline. He encouraged states to stop using physical punishment and to use methods that support students instead. He also helped coordinate a program called My Brother's Keeper. This program helped some prison inmates apply for federal grants to take college classes.
King also focused on helping teachers. He wanted to make sure teachers were well-prepared and supported. He also worked to increase the number of teachers of color. Beyond K-12 schools, King also focused on college success. He wanted more students to finish college and worked to reduce student debt.
After Government Service
On February 2, 2017, King became the President and CEO of The Education Trust. This group works to close opportunity gaps for students of color and students from low-income families. The Education Trust studies issues like getting more teachers of color, making sure learning is fair for all students, and improving access to good early childhood education.
In October 2020, King started a new group called Strong Future Maryland. This group works for progressive policy changes in Maryland. Their goals include investing in public education, helping families in need, and addressing climate change. King also teaches as a professor at the University of Maryland College Park.
Running for Governor
On April 20, 2021, King announced he was running for governor of Maryland. He wanted to win the Democratic nomination in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election. He chose Michelle Siri as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor. His plans included funding education, achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2035, and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. If elected, he would have been Maryland's first Black governor.
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During the primary election, King received support from several environmental and social justice groups. On July 19, 2022, King lost the primary election. He finished in sixth place.
Personal Life
John B. King Jr. is married to Melissa Steel King. She is a partner at an organization called Bellwether and used to be a kindergarten teacher. They have two daughters.
King serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Harvard Board of Overseers and the Robin Hood Foundation. He also co-chairs an initiative called This Is Planet Ed, which encourages the education sector to take action on climate change.
King has family connections to Maryland. His great-grandfather was enslaved in Gaithersburg, Maryland. His grandmother was one of the first graduates of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a historically Black college.
See also
- List of African-American United States Cabinet members
- List of United States politicians with doctorates
