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GUEST: Kevin Kumashiro, dean of the School of Education at the University of San Francisco, author of Bad Teacher!: How Blaming Teachers Distorts the Bigger Picture.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan has announced his retirement after a nearly 6-year tenure. Duncan, who will leave his post in December, was arguably one of the most powerful Education Secretaries in a very long time, creating his “Race to the Top” initiative, championing charter schools, and overseeing the adoption of the Common Core curriculum.

President Obama sang Duncan’s praises, citing a long list of accomplishments, and saying, “He bleeds this stuff. He cares so much about our kids, and is so passionate about this work.” Obama has requested, but not nominated deputy education secretary, John King Jr. to succeed Duncan.

But many educators and parents have seen a worsening of the public education system in the US under Duncan’s leadership.