Teacher, Author,
10th U.S. Secretary of Education

John B. King Jr. bio

John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization.

King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King’s parents were career New York City public school educators.

He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, an education researcher and former teacher, and his two daughters.

To book John for a speaking engagement, please email info@teacherbyteacher.com.

Teacher by Teacher

Teacher By Teacher traces the inspiring journey of John B. King Jr., the 10th U.S. Secretary of Education, and serves as a heartfelt tribute to teachers. After losing his mother, King found solace in school, even as he faced life alone with a father battling undiagnosed Alzheimer’s. His public school teachers saw his potential, giving him a second chance when others might have dismissed him. King went on to earn degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale, dedicating his career to helping young people as his teachers once helped him.

Teacher By Teacher will inspire everyone who believes in the transformative power of education and the life-changing impact of mentorship, especially for those who are underserved by public institutions and social systems in America.

Upcoming events

Stay up-to-date with our exciting upcoming events starting in May 2025.

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Press

Teacher by Teacher with John King
The Authority Podcast
April 16, 2025

Former US Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.
All Sides with Amy Juravich
April 30, 2025

Why Public Education Needs Your Voice NOW with John B. King Jr.
Leading Equity Podcast
May 5, 2025

Education with John King Jr.
Talk Nerdy Podcast
April 28, 2025

Every Child’s Potential, Every Teacher’s Power with John B. King Jr.
Ground Control Parenting
April 30, 2025

Obama Ed. Sec. John King: Teachers Can’t Be Bombarded With Reforms
EducationWeek
May 6, 2025

John B. King Jr.
The 1a NPR
April 28, 2025

If you had a teacher who changed your life, ‘find that person, tell that person’
USA Today | Opinion, Larry Strauss
May 5, 2025

How Good Teachers Can Improve the U.S. Education System
CBS News
May 7, 2025

What Comes After the Abolishment of the Department of Education
The Realignment Podcast

April 29, 2025

The Real Cost of Dismantling Public Education with former U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King
Smart People Podcast
May 24, 2025

Teaching, Power, and Policy with John B. King Jr., Former US Secretary of Education (part 1)
Teach Me, Teacher:
May 5, 2025

USA Today’s Best-selling Booklist
USA Today
May 7, 2025

John King reflects on the teachers who saved his life in new memoir
CBS Mornings with Gayle King
May 16, 2025

The 11th Hour
The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle
May 6, 2025

J Teachers Saved My Life. Why Do We Treat Them So Poorly?
The New York Times Opinion
May 25, 2025

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