Study Group with Secretary Miguel Cardona: Leading from the Front Lines of Education

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED

From ICE disruptions, to budget realities, what is it like to lead in today's schools and districts? What happens when policy meets practice? Hear from Chelsea MA Superintendent Dr. Almi Abeyta, and former CT BOE member, City Councilor, and Deputy Mayor Michael Cardona.

GUESTS:

• Dr. Almi Abeyta, Chelsea MA Superintendent
• Deputy Mayor Michael Cardona, former CT BOE member, City Councilor, and Deputy Mayor

About Dr. Almi Abeyta

Dr. Almudena (Almi) G. Abeyta has dedicated 29 years to advancing teaching and learning in urban education. A proud product of public schools, she was raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Before becoming Superintendent of Chelsea Public Schools in January 2020, Dr. Abeyta served as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in several districts, including Somerville Public Schools (2017–2019), Santa Fe Public Schools (2012–2017), and Boston Public Schools (2009–2012). Her leadership and commitment to equity in education have been recognized nationally; in 2015, she received the inaugural Latina Administrator of the Year Award from the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), and in 2021, she was honored with the first-ever La Lucha Award by Latinos for Education. In 2025 she was recognized as a Massachusetts Commonwealth Heroine and an ALX100 honoree, an annual list compiled by Amplify LatinX (ALX), a Massachusetts-based organization, that recognizes and celebrates 100 influential Latino and Latina leaders across various sectors in the state. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was also a frequent guest on WBUR’s In This Together radio series, offering insights and guidance to the public.

Dr. Abeyta began her administrative career as principal of the Donald McKay K-8 School in Boston from 2004 to 2008. Prior to that, she began her career in education as a kindergarten teacher.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Journalism from the University of New Mexico, and later completed two master’s degrees as well as a doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

About Deputy Mayor Michael Cardona

Michael Cardona currently serves as the City Clerk for the City of Meriden, a position he has held since 2023. He previously served as a City Councilor and Deputy Mayor from 2015 to 2023, where he also chaired the Public Safety Committee. From 2005 to 2015, he was a member of the Meriden Board of Education, serving as Vice President from 2009 to 2015 and Chairperson of the Policy Committee from 2007 to 2015.

Before his current municipal role, Michael worked in state and local public service for more than two decades. He served as a Parole Officer and Hearing Examiner for the Connecticut Board of Pardons & Paroles from 2004 to 2020, a Correctional Counselor for the Connecticut Department of Correction from 2000 to 2004, and as a Central Registrar for the Meriden Board of Education from 2020 to 2023. These experiences shaped his understanding of how effective leadership, empathy, and accountability intersect in both educational and public safety settings.

Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Criminology, having attended both the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University. His academic background has informed his lifelong commitment to the development of fair, transparent, and people-centered policy. His community involvement includes serving on the Meriden Historical Society Board of Directors (2025–present) and the Meriden Children’s First Initiative Board of Directors (2007–2012), reflecting his dedication to preserving local history and supporting youth development.

The son of parents who came from Puerto Rico and settled in Meriden in the 1950s, Michael continues to make Meriden his home. Deeply committed to history, public service, and community engagement, he brings that passion to every role he serves, striving to strengthen the connection between policy and practice in public education and local government. His leadership reflects a belief that progress is built not only through policy decisions but also through relationships, understanding, and trust with the communities he serves.

AUDIENCE: These conversations are open to members of the Harvard community. Please RSVP with a valid Harvard email address. 

OFF-THE-RECORD: In keeping with our long tradition at the IOP to ensure honest and candid discussions of politics, all IOP study groups are off-the-record.