Arne Duncan Obama's Pick for Education Secretary

By: Michelle Levi
Topics: Obama

From CBS News' Marc Ambinder:

A senior transition official confirms to CBS News' Marc Ambinder that Obama will nominate Arne Duncan to be Education Secretary tomorrow at his 11:45 am ET news conference in Chicago.

Duncan has worked in the Chicago Public Schools for ten years and was named CEO of the system by Mayor Richard Daley in 2001. He supports merit pay for administrators and teachers, but he also supports money for teacher retraining, recruitment and classroom infrastructure. Duncan is on the record as favoring No Child Left Behind, although, like Obama, he favors significant reforms.

Ambinder reports that the Teachers Union is pleased with Obama's selection, a sentiment the group's president shared with the President-elect.

A hometown is not the only thing Obama and Duncan have in common, the presumed appointee once played his future boss' favotite sport, professional basketball, in Australia.

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by mskarenlynn07 November 12, 2010 2:34 PM EST: Yo! Arne Duncan! CONGRADULATIONS TO Y'ALL!!!
"...Rock 'n' Roll!!!...", shipmate!!!!!!!

--karenlynn07 o' West Seattle, Warshington US o' A!; Reply to this comment


by credibility2 December 16, 2008 3:36 PM EST: I guess it''s always easier to do the crony thing. Sure eliminates a lot of due diligence and research. In any event, I hope that emphasis on a major aspect of kids succeeding in schools hasn''t anything to do with qualified teachers, curriculum and infrastructure, although those elements are important - more emphasis needs to be placed on the parents/guardians taking a proactive role in their kids'' education, instead of casting off all of the responsibility and obligation onto the teachers and the schools. Too many parents/guardians are lax, disconnected, and often incompetent to guide and set as a model themselves for the benefits of getting a good education. Schools can only throw so much at kids, sooner or later, they''re going to need to work at getting education, instead of expecting one to be handed to them as either as a reward for showing up or doing what they''re minimally expected to do, like doing their studies and homework, or for just being there.; Reply to this comment


by ljb6599 December 16, 2008 3:10 PM EST: kevink.....I suppose that is why he picked Hillary Clinton as Secretaary of State. I suppose he wanted to take care of his friends first!What a joke! Get over it Obama won!; Reply to this comment


by cariboubarbi December 16, 2008 1:14 PM EST: Starting to see a pattern.

Bush hires cronies and yes men.

Obama hires the best and brightest from across the country.; Reply to this comment


by neonink December 16, 2008 12:53 PM EST: OMG.; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet971 December 16, 2008 12:52 PM EST: Now that''''s a comfort. The guy who ran the worst school system in the United States...Oh boy, hopie, changie!

Posted by RowdynTex at 09:45 AM : Dec 16, 2008

Rowdy Rowdy!! AGAIN you are a LIAR!! Chicago''s Schools, not only were far from the worst in the nation but had made MAJOR improvements under the leadership of this person! ROFLMAO; Reply to this comment


by irmcvet971 December 16, 2008 12:50 PM EST: This guy sounds like another empty suit in Washington.

Posted by kevinkkloste at 09:46 AM : Dec 16, 2008

NO! The LAST joke to hold that position under Sir Lies-A-Lot... NOW that was an EMPTY suit!! This person is a true profession with HANDS on ability actually RUNNING schools. Isn''t THAT a novel idea... course now he IS a fascist and doesn''t meet the "PARTY" requirements but then hey, America has never been a fascist kind of people anyway.; Reply to this comment


by setumstrt9 December 16, 2008 12:45 PM EST: Why would Obama select someone involved with the Chicago school system? Obama''s an idiot.; Reply to this comment