This week Chris is joined by US Secretary for Education Dr. Miguel Cardona. Dr. Cardona tells how his own bicultural roots and his family's journey from Puerto Rico have powered his drive for educational equity and excellence. We discuss the imperative to reimagine our schools as incubators for critical skills. We address the current teacher shortages head-on, dissecting the ABCs of teaching—Agency, Better working conditions, and Competitive salary—as Dr. Cardona describes the systemic issues at the core of this crisis. We look at the impact of the American Rescue Plan on teacher salaries, part of the transformative steps being taken to nurture a teaching environment that's as diverse and dynamic as the students it serves. This episode is a heartfelt tribute to the educators shaping our tomorrow.