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 |
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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, New York, 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 leader. He is currently the 15th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY). Before this, he led The Education Trust, a group that helps all students get a fair chance at school.
King also served as the 10th United States Secretary of Education from 2016 to 2017 under President Barack Obama. In 2021, he ran for governor of Maryland but did not win the primary election.
He was the Acting Deputy Secretary of Education from 2015 to 2016. Before that, he was the New York State Education Commissioner from 2011 to 2014. As U.S. Secretary of Education, King helped put into action the Every Student Succeeds Act, a law that changed how schools are supported.
On December 5, 2022, King was chosen to be the Chancellor of the State University of New York. He is the second Black chancellor and the first Puerto Rican chancellor for SUNY. He started his new role on January 9, 2023.
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John King's Early Life and Education
John B. King Jr. was born in 1975 in Flatlands, Brooklyn, New York. His father, John B. King Sr., was a retired school administrator and teacher. His mother, Adalinda King, was a school guidance counselor. John King Jr. has both African-American and Puerto Rican heritage.
His father was Brooklyn's first Black principal and later a top school official in New York City. Sadly, King's mother passed away when he was eight years old. His father developed Alzheimer's disease and died when King was 12. King has said that his public school teachers helped him through these tough times.
After his parents died, King lived with his older half-brother. He later attended Phillips Andover but was expelled. He then moved to New Jersey to live with his uncle, a Tuskegee Airman. From there, he was accepted into Harvard University.
King's College and Graduate Studies
King earned a bachelor's degree in government from Harvard. He was also a Truman Scholar, which is a special award for future public service leaders. He received a fellowship to teach American history and government.
He then earned a master's degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, in teaching social studies. He taught high school social studies. King also helped start the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School. He was a co-director there for five years. Under his leadership, Roxbury Prep students achieved very high test scores. They even closed the achievement gap between different racial groups.
King later worked as a managing director for Uncommon Schools. This group runs high-performing public charter schools in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In 2013, Uncommon Schools won the Broad Prize for being a top charter school network.
King continued his education, earning a law degree from Yale Law School. He also received a doctorate in educational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
John King's Career in Education
John King has served on several important education boards. He was on the board of New Leaders for New Schools from 2005 to 2009. He was also an Aspen Institute Fellow, which helps leaders in public education.
New York State Education Commissioner
In May 2011, King was appointed Commissioner of Education of the State of New York. He also became President of the University of the State of New York (USNY). He was the first Black and Puerto Rican person to hold this position. USNY oversees many schools, colleges, libraries, and museums across New York State.
As Commissioner, King worked to improve education in New York. The state became a leader in using Common Core standards. These standards set clear learning goals for students. New York's website, EngageNY, helped teachers learn about and use the Common Core.
King also helped create a new system to evaluate teachers and leaders. This system included how much students learned. He also worked to make charter schools more accountable.
In 2013, New York was one of the first states to give tests that measured Common Core standards. This led to some disagreements, and King held many public meetings to listen to people's concerns. In April 2014, the state teachers' union asked him to resign.
In December 2014, King announced he would leave his New York role. He was moving to the United States Department of Education.
Working for the U.S. Department of Education
In 2011, King was chosen by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to serve on a commission about fairness in education. In January 2015, King became the Acting Deputy Secretary of Education. He oversaw many programs related to K-12 education, special education, and helping students who are learning English.
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When Secretary Arne Duncan decided to leave, President Barack Obama announced that King would take his place. President Obama called King "the right man" for the job. King said he was proud to continue the important work. Many saw King's appointment as a way to keep the same education goals. His background, including being orphaned at a young age, was seen as a way to connect with many students.
On December 10, 2015, President Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This new law replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. President Obama said King would do "outstanding work" helping to put this new law into action.
On January 1, 2016, King became Acting Secretary. On March 14, 2016, the United States Senate approved him as the official Secretary of Education. King was the second African-American, second Latino, and first Afro-Latino to hold this position.
As Secretary, King worked to put the ESSA law into practice. He believed it would give students a "well-rounded education." He wanted to make sure schools focused on more than just math and English. He also worked to help schools become more diverse. In December 2016, he announced a grant program to help school districts increase student diversity.
King also addressed school discipline. He spoke out against physical punishment in schools. He wanted schools to use methods that support students instead. He also worked on the My Brother's Keeper program. This program helps young men of color. He even allowed some prison inmates to apply for federal money 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. He also focused on helping more students finish college. He worked to stop bad for-profit colleges and help students manage their college debt.
Leading The Education Trust
On February 2, 2017, John King became the President and CEO of The Education Trust. This group works to close gaps in opportunity 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 stopping unfair discipline. They also look at how to make sure all students have access to good early childhood education and higher education.
King also co-chairs the Aspen Institute K12 Climate Action Commission. This group works to get the education sector involved in fighting climate change.
Strong Future Maryland
In October 2020, King started a group called Strong Future Maryland. This group works for big changes in policy to make society more fair. They focus on public education, helping those in need, economic growth for all, and environmental justice.
King also teaches as a professor at the University of Maryland College Park.
Running for Maryland Governor in 2022
On April 20, 2021, King announced he would run for governor of Maryland. He sought the Democratic nomination in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election. His plans included funding education, making Maryland carbon neutral by 2035, and raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. If he had won, he would have been Maryland's first Black governor.
On July 19, 2022, King lost the primary election. He came in sixth place.
John King's Personal Life
John King is married to Melissa Steel King. She is a partner at Bellwether and used to be a kindergarten teacher. They have two daughters and have lived in Silver Spring, Maryland.
King serves on the boards of several organizations. These include the Harvard Board of Overseers, the Robin Hood Foundation, MDRC, and the American Museum of Natural History. He also co-chairs This Is Planet Ed, which helps the education sector act on climate change.
King has family ties to Maryland. His great-grandfather was enslaved in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The cabin where his family lived as enslaved people is still standing. His grandmother was one of the first graduates of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1894. This was a historically Black college.
See also
- List of African-American United States Cabinet members
- List of United States politicians with doctorates
