New London's Soto Settles in to D.C. Education Post, Rejoining Meriden's Cardona

Former Connecticut legislator Chris Soto has joined the U.S. Department of Education after serving as the director of innovation and partnerships at the Connecticut State Department of Education.  His appointment was formally announced this week, among a group of political appointees named by the U.S. Department of Education. He will serve as a Senior Advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education.

“These diverse and accomplished individuals will bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the agency, and work to quickly advance key education priorities for the Biden-Harris Administration,” the announcement pointed out.

Soto held previous roles in state government in Connecticut as the Lamont Administration’s director of legislative affairs in 2019 and then as director of innovation and partnerships with the state Department of Education, appointed in late-2019. At that time, Governor Ned Lamont said “I know that Chris will do a great job helping chart a path for our youth in his new role.”

He had previously served as a state representative for New London, in the Connecticut General Assembly, first elected in 2016. In the legislature, Soto served as the House vice-chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Following his active-duty service in the U.S. Coast Guard, including a year as Assistant Director of Diversity at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he founded and led Higher Edge, a college-access organization that serves first-generation college-bound students on their postsecondary journeys. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Brown University and a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

Former Connecticut Commissioner of Education Miguel Cardona was named U.S. Secretary of Education by President Biden at the start of his term in January.  Cardona, who previously served in the Meriden school system, is now rounding out his senior leadership team, and has turned to a familiar face to be part of that team.  It was less than two years ago that Cardona added Soto to the leadership team at the State Department of Education.

"I was humbled when he asked. I had no expectations," Soto told the Day of New London. "I just bring it back to New London. My education career started here at the grassroots level, working student by student, family by family, and so to go from that and now be a member of the secretary's senior leadership team... It's humbling."