Dr. John B. King, Jr. shares his incredible journey and invites us to imagine the classroom as a space of sanctuary, creativity and growth. Hear his story, and get advice and resources for future teachers.
On June 26, 2025, TEACH sat down with former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King, Jr. for an inspiring conversation about his life, career, and his book Teacher by Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives.
In this recorded event, Dr. King shares personal stories and insights about the educators who shaped his life, and the vital role each of us can play in supporting the next generation.
On this page, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite moments and biggest takeaways—so you can watch (or rewatch!) the webinar, and get Dr. King’s empowering advice, all in one place.
Dr. John B. King Jr. served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and influential career in public education, he has been a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal, the first African American and Puerto Rican to serve as New York State Education Commissioner, a college professor, and the president and CEO of the Education Trust, a national education civil rights organization.
King is currently the chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the nation’s largest comprehensive system of public higher education. Both of King’s parents were career New York City public school educators. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, an education researcher and former teacher, and his two daughters.
Learn more about Dr. King and get his book, Teacher by Teacher: The People Who Change Our Lives.
Dr(a). Nury Lizeth Castro serves as TEACH’s Director of Program Development and Strategic Initiatives. She was raised in Durham, NC by two immigrant parents and is a proud product of public and Title I schools. Throughout her academic and professional journey, Nury has remained steadfast in her belief that education is a tool for freedom and social change.
Her career spans multiple roles in higher education administration, public service, and nonprofit leadership, where she has developed and scaled transformative initiatives and programs. Nury thrives at the intersection of strategic planning, outreach, and building data-driven systems that are people-centered and community-focused.
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It was tough to pick our favorite quotes from Dr. King, but we did our best. (We've condensed some for clarity.) Check out our top moments and share! Don’t forget to watch for yourself to find your personal highlights.
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