U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the appointment of Beto Gonzalez as deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE). Gonzalez will serve as the deputy to Assistant Secretary of Education Susan Sclafani.

"We are looking forward to having someone with Beto's expertise on board," said Spellings. "His work with minority high school and college students will greatly enhance our efforts to continue closing the achievement gap through No Child Left Behind reforms and, especially, to stem the dropout rate that has been prevalent among our Hispanic students for the last several decades."

"Beto will focus on aligning the work of OVAE's divisions of career and technical education, community colleges and adult education with the needs of the field," said Sclafani. "His background in teaching Spanish and English as a second language (ESL) in high schools, as well as ESL in adult education, combined with his experience at the community college level give him a unique perspective on the complex issues facing educators across the spectrum. He will be a great asset as we work to improve transitions along the career pathways for students of all ages."

Mexican-American and a native of Bakersfield, Calif., Gonzalez served as dean of students and student services at Bakersfield College and as a lecturer and instructor at the Graduate School of Education of Fresno Pacific University. Most recently, he worked as a special assistant in the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, responsible for coordinating Hispanic outreach and media relations. From 1991 to 1995, Gonzalez taught English literature, ESL and Spanish at Wasco High School in Wasco, Calif., and at Centennial High School, a nationally recognized school in Bakersfield, Calif.

Born into a migrant family of farm workers, Gonzalez's early life was spent migrating each year from California to Nebraska, following the seasonal crops. The family travels to areas of farm labor continued up to his college graduation. During these years, effective education programs and caring principals, teachers and coaches played a vital role in his academic development, eventually leading him to the completion of several degrees and credentials in education. Overcoming the challenges of his early years inspired Gonzalez to pursue a career in public service as an educator. Gonzalez has a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish and a master's degree in educational administration from California State University at Bakersfield. He has also done doctoral coursework in educational leadership at the University of California at Los Angeles.

In his new role, Gonzalez will support OVAE's mission to ensure that all Americans have the knowledge and technical skills necessary to succeed in postsecondary education, the workforce and life. Through the Preparing America's Future initiative's comprehensive policies, programs and activities, OVAE is helping reform America's high schools, supporting America's community colleges and expanding America's adult education programs. These efforts will transform the federal role, sparking state and local reform efforts. To learn more about the role and function of OVAE, visit www.ed.gov.

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