Education Policy Leader & Former U.S. Secretary of Education; CEO at Chicago Public Schools; Author of "How Schools Work"
Arne Duncan Biography
Arne Duncan is a prominent education leader who served as the ninth U.S. Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama. Duncan was one of the longest-serving members of Obama's cabinet and played a significant role in shaping federal education policy. His career in education leadership began after graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in sociology and playing professional basketball in Australia. Before joining Chicago Public Schools, Duncan led the nonprofit Ariel Education Initiative, which supported college access for inner-city students through the I Have A Dream program.
Prior to his federal appointment, Duncan served as chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley. During his tenure, he became the longest-serving superintendent among major U.S. cities. Duncan advanced education reform by opening new schools, expanding after-school and summer programs, closing underperforming schools, increasing early childhood and college access, enhancing teacher quality, and fostering public-private partnerships.
As Secretary of Education, Duncan oversaw initiatives such as the Race to the Top grant program and promoted common academic standards, including the Common Core State Standards. He helped secure congressional support for federal investments in education, including funding for teaching jobs, increases in Pell grants, and interventions in low-performing schools. Under Duncan's leadership, the Education Department offered conditional waivers from No Child Left Behind requirements to states implementing reforms such as common standards and teacher evaluations based on student test scores.
After his tenure in Washington, Duncan returned to Chicago, where he founded Chicago CRED, an organization focused on reducing gun violence through outreach, counseling, prevention, and workforce development. He is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Duncan continues to contribute to education policy discussions, speaking at events hosted by organizations such as the Brookings Institution and delivering keynote addresses at major education summits. He is the author of the memoir "How Schools Work: An Inside Account of Failure and Success from One of the Nation's Longest-Serving Secretaries of Education," which explores issues such as standardized testing, union influence, charter schools, and student achievement. Drawing on decades of experience, Duncan remains an influential voice in public education, education reform, and policy development.
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What are the speaker fees for Arne Duncan
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What topics does Arne Duncan speak about?
Arne Duncan is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include College, Creativity, Economy, Education, Government, Innovation, Inspirational, Political -
Where does Arne Duncan travel from?
Arne Duncan generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Arne Duncan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Arne Duncan for your event is available upon request. Arne Duncan generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Sylvia Acevedo, Kal Penn, Pedro Noguera, Hill Harper and Leland Melvin. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Arne Duncan for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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