In the latest episode of the Up Close Podcast with Sara Sneed®, President and CEO of The NEA Foundation Sara A. Sneed sits down with Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten to discuss her journey from a classroom teacher to one of the top education officials in the country. Throughout her 35-year career, Marten has championed equity in education, working to ensure every student and educator receives the support they need to thrive.
During the episode, Marten shares her insights into the challenges and opportunities facing public education today. Reflecting on her time as a teacher, principal, and superintendent in the San Diego Unified School District, she highlights the transformative power of well-supported, committed educators and underscores the importance of reimagining educational policies to meet the needs of students and educators alike.
A Journey of Dedication to Equity and Excellence
Marten’s career exemplifies a deep commitment to equity and access in education. “My job titles have changed, but my mission has remained the same: to be a champion for students and educators,” she tells Sneed. This passion for public education has guided her work, from her early days in the classroom to her leadership role at the U.S. Department of Education, where she now advocates for policies that support quality teaching and equitable access for all students.
One of the central themes of Marten’s conversation is the significance of recruiting and retaining quality educators. She emphasizes that educators’ voices and perspectives are crucial in shaping education policies that address the unique challenges they face. To meet these challenges, Marten describes the Department of Education’s focus on five key areas: promoting teacher leadership, increasing teacher compensation, expanding pathways into the profession, ensuring mentoring and professional development, and fostering educator diversity. These initiatives are designed not only to address critical teacher shortages but also to support and retain diverse and talented educators who reflect the demographics of the students they serve.
Building Supportive, Equitable Learning Environments
Throughout the episode, Marten stresses the need for equitable, student-centered learning environments. She argues that true equity in education means that “students and educators get what they need, when they need it, in the way that they need it.” Drawing on her experiences in San Diego, she explains how supporting the health and wellness of both students and educators is foundational to creating effective learning environments. Under her leadership, the district introduced programs to support physical and mental health, which resulted in receiving the America’s Healthiest School Awards from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
“If you figure out how to prioritize the physical, mental, social, and emotional health and well-being of students and staff, then we’re not going to get to the core mission around academic outcomes. We want academic achievement for our students, but students aren’t learning when they’re not well. Teachers aren’t teaching when they’re not well.”
How the Community Schools Model Supports Student Success
Marten also highlights the Biden administration’s commitment to expanding community schools, a strategy she considers essential for providing both academic and non-academic services and resources. Community schools connect students and families with crucial services with the aim of removing barriers to learning and providing students with the support they need to succeed. The administration has proposed a significant increase in funding to expand the community schools program, with the goal of reaching more students across the country.
During Marten and Sneed’s conversation, Marten recounts the moving story of Damarian, a student she knew in San Diego whose unknown condition of sickle cell anemia tragically cut his life short. His story highlights the critical importance of services like school-based health centers in supporting student well-being, particularly for underserved populations.
A Vision of Hope and Progress
Looking toward the future, Marten expresses her optimism about the potential of public education. She describes the Department’s “Raise the Bar, Lead the World” initiative, which is focused on improving learning conditions, expanding multilingualism, and creating clear pathways to college and career for all students. Marten believes that investing in these areas will help ensure that students not only succeed academically but also leave school ready to contribute to society.
“We have places where it’s happening,” Marten said. “We can build upon those pockets of excellence to create systems of excellence. That gives me hope.” This vision of scaling successful programs and approaches across the country drives her work, and she encourages educators, policymakers, and communities to collaborate to make equity and excellence a reality in every school.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
