Meyer brings in federal official to head state education department

Gov.-elect Matt Meyer has nominated a federal education administrator to be Delaware's next secretary of education. 

“Cindy Marten is a proven leader with a deep understanding of the challenges that students and educators face. She has spent her career working to ensure every student has the tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Meyer in a press release.  “As Delaware’s next secretary of education, Cindy will guide our classrooms into a brighter future where equity, opportunity and excellence are at the heart of everything we do."

As the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Marten also serves as chief operating officer, overseeing a $230 billion budget and more than 4,000 federal employees. She has more than 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher and served for eight years as superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District, the second-largest school district in California. There, she directed implementation of the district's Vision 2020 commitment to graduating all students. Officials said the program resulted in the district achieving the highest graduation rate among big-city districts in California and the fastest reading growth of large urban districts nationwide in 2019.

Throughout her career, Meyer said, Marten has championed community engagement, student-centered learning and the empowerment of educators. Under her leadership, officials said, San Diego Unified received Gold Recognition in the American Heart Association's Workplace Health Achievement Index for efforts to support employee wellness, and multiple San Diego Unified schools received the America's Healthiest Schools award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Marten is also a strong proponent of multilingual education, Meyer said.

Meyer said Marten has spent her career advocating for policies and practices that help all students succeed, particularly those from historically underserved communities. He said her appointment reflects his dedication to transforming Delaware’s educational system to ensure every child, regardless of background or ZIP code, has access to a high-quality education.

"I am honored to join Gov.-elect Meyer’s team and help lead Delaware’s public schools into a new era," Marten said in a press release. "I believe deeply in the power of education to change lives, and I am committed to working with teachers, parents, students and communities to ensure all of Delaware’s children receive a world-class education."