PHOTOS: Miguel Cardona through the years

Miguel Cardona

Miguel Cardona, a senior at Wilcox Tech, stands before his mural, Sept. 1992. It will be shown at Maloney High School for the 7:30 performance by teh Meriden Symphony Orchestra.

Miguel Cardona's senior photos from the 1993 H.C. Wilcox Technical High School yearbook.

From the 1993 Wilcox Technial High School yearbook.

RJ file photo - Miguel Cardona, first-time teacher, in his fourth-grade classroom at Israel Putnam School, Aug. 25, 1998.

Miss Connecticut, Marissa Perez, with her fiancee Miguel Cardona, speaks to a Record-Journal reporter before leaving Atlantic City the day after the Miss America Pageant. Perez said she will now focusher attention on her responsibilities as Miss Connecticut now that the pageant is over. The interview took plac ein the loby of Perez's hotel, The Sands, in Atlantic City.

Hector Cardona Sr. and son Miguel Cardona. Behind them is a photo of Hector Cardona Sr.'s parents, Avelino Cardona and Maria Cardona, who lived in Aguada, Puerto Rico.

Hector Cardona III, 15-months-old, sings with his god-father Miguel Cardona as Miguel plays the bongos. The two celebrated with a large crowd at All Saint's Church Friday night during the seventh annual holiday Parranda, the Spanish version of Christmas caroling popular in Puerto Rico.

(L) Miguel Cardona has been named the new principal of Hanover Elementary School in Meriden. Cardona spends most of each lunch period talking with students, like (R) first grader Philip Mastri.

Miguel Cardona tries to get his nephew Hector, right, to play his guitar Fri. night, Dec. 6, 2002 at John Barry School as Michael Dalmau, left, plays his maracas during the annual Parranda celebration.

Miguel Cardona, principal of Hanover Elementary School, throws a ceremonial first pitch of a New Britain Rock Cats baseball game right before about 200 students from the school sang the national anthem on May 23, 2006.

Barabara Wade Holloman, left, president of the Meriden/Wallingford NAACP chapter, speaks at the second meeting of the Race Relations panel while Miguel Cardona, principal of Hanover School, and Rev. Will Marotti, the moderator, listen at New Life Church in Meriden, Friday night, October 10, 2008. The first topic the panel discussed was diversity in the workplace that represents the community. (Christopher Zajac/Record-Journal)

Miguel A. Cardona, principal of Hanover School, leads a cheer for students, teachers, parents and volunteers during the school's "Spring Fling" outing at Habershon Field in South Meriden, Wednesday, June 12, 2013. Cardona later announced he is leaving at the end of the year to take on a new central office position. (Dave Zajac/Record-Journal)

Miguel Cardona, Principal of Hanover School, right, rubs the back of his son, Miguel Cardona Jr., during an event in the cafeteria called, "How Schools Work" in which a local education nonprofit, Meriden Children First, asked city and school officials to attend and answer questions after explaining how the city and state officials share responsibility, Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

The school year is underway as Principal Miguel Cardona gives the thumbs up to students entering Hanover Elementary Wednesday morning August 31, 2011. (Dave Zajac/Record-Journal)

Guest Speaker Miguel Cardona, Meriden Public Schools assistant superintendent and Wilcox Class of 1993 graduate speaks during graduation ceremonies at Wilcox Technical School in Meriden, Tuesday, June 19, 2018. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Record Journal Photo/ Johnathon Henninger 6.16.08 - Hanover School Principal, Miguel Cardona Sr. poses for a photo with Shawn Barillaro on the last day of school in Meriden Monday afternoon.

Principal Miguel Cardona pumps up the students and teachers during a pep rally outside of Hanover School Monday morning before all the students, parents, and teachers paraded into the school to their respective classrooms in South Meriden, August 30, 2010. (Christopher Zajac/Record-Journal)

Hanover School principal Miguel Cardona greets Jaylen John (CQ), 4, on his first day of school Wed., Aug. 30.

Hanover School principal Miguel Cardona greets arriving students at the rear of the school Wed. morning, Aug. 30, the first day of school in Meriden.

Miguel Cardona, principal of Hanover School in Meriden, sits at his desk for a portrait, April 1, 2011. (Sarah Nathan/ Record-Journal)

Miguel Cardona, principal of Hanover School, eats breakfast and talks about Justain Bieber with third graders Asharia Ray (left) and Dina Hamideh (right) in the school cafeteria in Meriden, April 1, 2011. "I enjoy spending time with the students," said Cardona. "This is just a happy place to be." (Sarah Nathan/ Record-Journal)

Record Journal Photo/ Johnathon Henninger 8.27.08 - left to right, Caitlyn Hart, 6, walks with Hanover Principal, Miguel Cardona who also holds the hand of Bridget Ruiz, 5 years old. Both girls are begining their first day of first grade together Wednesday morning at Hanover School in Meriden.

Governor Ned Lamont, left, speaks next to Commisioner of Education Miguel Cardona, center, and Christine Stuart, CTNewsJunkie.com editor, during an education forum at Wilcox Technical High School in Meriden, Tues., Aug. 27, 2019. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

Commisioner of Education Miguel Cardona answers a question from Christine Stuart, CTNewsJunkie.com editor, during an education forum at Wilcox Technical High School in Meriden, Tues., Aug. 27, 2019. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

First lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visit a robotics lab during a tour at Fort LeBoeuf Middle School in Waterford, Pa., Wednesday, March 3, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

First lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona visit a classroom as they tour Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Meriden, Ct. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during a tour at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, Wednesday, March 3, 2021 in Meriden, Conn. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via AP)

Education Secretary nominee Miguel Cardona testifies before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee during his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool)

Education secretary nominee Miguel Cardona during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the nomination on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2020, file photo President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona speaks at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice for the next U.S. secretary of education, speaks next to wife Marissa and children, Miguel Jr. 16, and Celine 14, of Meriden, during a livestream event in the auditorium of Maloney High School in Meriden, Mon., Jan. 11, 2021. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal

President-elect Joe Biden, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, seated left, introduces his nominee for Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona, at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

December 22, 2020 07:39PM