The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet.
Until 1979, there was one Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, uniting this department with the Department of Health and Human Services, which is now headed by a separate Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Secretaries of Education
| Name |
Term of Office |
President(s) served under |
|---|
| Shirley Hufstedler |
November 30, 1979 - January 20, 1981 |
Jimmy Carter |
| Terrell Bell |
January 22, 1981 - January 20, 1985 |
Ronald Reagan |
| William J. Bennett |
February 6, 1985 - 1988 |
Ronald Reagan |
| Lauro Cavazos |
September 20, 1988 - December 12, 1990 |
Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush |
| Lamar Alexander |
March 22, 1991 - January 20, 1993 |
George H. W. Bush |
| Richard Riley |
January 21, 1993 - January 20, 2001 |
Bill Clinton |
| Roderick Paige |
January 20, 2001 - January 20, 2005 |
George W. Bush |
| Margaret Spellings |
January 20, 2005 - |
George W. Bush |
