For many men my age, professional wrestling was a centerpiece of our childhood entertainment. Many of us tuned in every Monday and would beg our parents to pay the $60 plus dollars once a month for the PPV events. We looked up to The Undertaker, The Rock and Stone-Cold Steve Austin. The wrestling’s scripted chaos was always unexpected, but no storyline in WWE could prepare us for what could happen with the president’s latest administration pick.
Linda McMahon, wife of former CEO Vince McMahon, is now set to lead the U.S. Department of Education as the pick for Secretary of Education. This entire thing feels like the make-believe storylines I grew up watching on WWE. For those of us who grew up watching the chaos of WWE, seeing someone with no prior education experience and whose fame is tied to the fact she was choke-slammed by a wrestler who served as a mayor in Tennessee shouldn’t be surprising. Linda McMahon, if confirmed, would go from the squared circle to shaping the nation’s education policy.
Like his first pick for secretary of education, the mold has been broken, and I wonder if our president-elect takes education seriously. I decided to show a comparison of the secretary of education appointed by Barack Obama, Donald Trump (term 1), Joe Biden and Donald Trump (potentially) for term 2.
When comparing the qualifications of Arne Duncan, Betsy DeVos, Miguel Cardona and Linda McMahon for the U.S. Secretary of Education role, I have highlighted their educational backgrounds, professional experience and alignment with the role of leading education in our country.
Arne Duncan (2009–2015)
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Harvard University.
- Professional Experience: CEO of Chicago Public Schools (2001–2009), one of the largest public-school districts in the country. He is known for education reforms, which include expanding charter schools and supporting teacher evaluation systems linked to student performance.
- Alignment: Experience in public education.
Betsy DeVos (2017–2021)
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in business economics from Calvin College.
- Professional Experience: She was the chair of the Michigan Republican Party and an advocate for school choice and charter schools.
- Alignment: Deep ties to the charter school and school voucher movements. Emphasis on parental choice and alternatives to traditional public schooling.
Miguel Cardona (2021–Present)
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in education from Central Connecticut State University. Master’s and Doctorate in education from the University of Connecticut.
- Professional Experience: Classroom teacher, school principal and Connecticut Commissioner of Education. He was known for his experience in K–12 education and working directly with underserved student populations.
- Alignment: Equity focus and pandemic recovery. First-generation college graduate with experience as a bilingual educator.
Linda McMahon (Nominee)
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in French from East Carolina University.
- Professional Experience: CEO of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). Served the Small Business Administration (2017–2019)
- Alignment: She has experience leading large organizations.
Duncan, Cardona and even DeVos brought different perspectives to the role based on their educational experiences, some more unique than others. McMahon’s potential appointment points to signs that the president-elect wants to shift toward viewing education as a business sector rather than a public good.
Dr. David McGuire is an educator and researcher and hosts a podcast called The Recess Podcast. If you are a Black educator who aspires to be a school leader, click the Research Study Survey and take the school principal confidence survey to provide valuable research data. McGuire can be reached at davidmmcguire14@outlook.com.
