John King shares a personal introduction as he assumes leadership of the US Department of Education.

John King has become acting US Secretary of Education, succeeding former Secretary Arne Duncan.

In this video, he describes his moment of his transition. He marks the high point of the nation’s record 82% graduation rate. And he speaks about challenges that still exist, including providing education equity and universal access to preschool.

King also shares about his past, including the role that teachers played in his youth, his work as a teacher, and how his experiences shape his approach to education policy.

In the coming year, the Maryland General Assembly will likely hear bills on some of the subjects King discussed in his video, including access to preschool education. In Maryland, where education costs are shared by county and state governments, education policy decisions can have an effect on county communities and county government budgets.

Keep reading Conduit Street for updates on bills in the Maryland General Assembly affecting county governments.