Episode Details

On this episode of Beyond My Years, host Ana Torres is joined by Miguel Cardona, Ed.D., who served as the 12th U.S. secretary of education and is the founder and CEO of Cardona Solutions. A former fourth-grade teacher and an award-winning school principal who served as the Connecticut commissioner of education, Miguel explains why bilingualism is a cognitive and economic superpower—and why we should always view it as an asset. Miguel also shares why he believes we do students a disservice by assuming the only option for success is four-year college and describes what it could look like to reimagine high schools to include career pathways. Eric Cross, our Classroom Insider and a middle school science teacher, then joins Ana to reflect on why sympathy doesn't always translate into support, and why we should ask students about themselves rather than making assumptions.

Show notes:

• Learn more about Miguel Cardona and Cardona Solutions.
• Listen to our Beyond My Years episode with Luz Muñoz.
• Listen to our Beyond My Years episode with Pedro Noguera, Ph.D.
• Listen to our special episode in Spanish with Luz Muñoz.
• Listen to Amplify's Multilingual/English Learners (ML/ELs) podcast playlist
• Follow us on Instagram.
• Subscribe to Beyond My Years.
• Connect with Ana Torres.
• Connect with Eric Cross.

Quotes: 

"When you are thinking in different languages, your cognitive ability increases." —Miguel Cardona

"Sympathy isn't always support, so check your expectations underneath it." —Eric Cross

"I am a teacher at heart. I will have that teacher heart until the day I die." —Ana Torres

"Bilingualism is an economic superpower. It is a cognitive superpower." —Miguel Cardona