John B. King Jr. is the president of The Education Trust, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to identify and close opportunity and achievement gaps, from preschool through college. King served as the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education as a member of President Barack Obama?s administration. In tapping him to lead the U.S. Department of Education, President Obama called John ?an exceptionally talented educator,? citing his commitment to ?preparing every child for success? and his lifelong dedication to education as a teacher, principal, and leader of schools and school systems. Before becoming education secretary, John carried out the duties of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, overseeing all policies and programs related to P-12 education, English learners, special education, and innovation. In this role, John also oversaw the agency?s operations. John joined the department following his tenure as the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner. John began his career in education as a high school social studies teacher in Puerto Rico and Boston, Mass., and as a middle school principal. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in government from Harvard University, a JD from Yale Law School, as well as a Master of Arts in the teaching of social studies and a doctorate in education from Teachers College at Columbia University. John lives in Silver Spring, Md., with his wife (a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher) and his two daughters, one attends Montgomery County Public Schools and the other recently graduated and is now in college.