--- title: Mario Cardona Selected for Pahara Fellowship for Education Leaders description: Mario Cardona Selected for Pahara Fellowship for Education Leaders --- [![Child Care Aware of America Logo](https://info.childcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png?width=690&height=350&name=usachildcareaware.site-ym.comgraphicslogo-new.png "Child Care Aware of America Logo")](https://www.childcareaware.org/) - [English ](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/mario-cardona-selected-for-pahara-fellowship-for-education-leaders#) - [Español (Spanish) ](https://www.childcareaware.org/?lang=es) - [Child Care Career Center](http://careers.childcareaware.org/) - [Help for Military/DoD Families](https://www.childcareaware.org/fee-assistancerespite/) Search ![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://info.childcareaware.org/hubfs/ChildCareAware_October2019%20Theme/Images/menu_img.png) ## Media Center For media requests, please call 703-341-4161 or email [news@usa.childcareaware.org](mailto:news@usa.childcareaware.org). # Mario Cardona Selected for Pahara Fellowship for Education Leaders February 03, 2022 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Mario Cardona, Child Care Aware® of America’s Chief of Policy and Practice, has been selected for a Pahara Fellowship, a one-year program that identifies exceptional leaders in the educational excellence and equity movement, facilitates their dynamic growth, and strengthens their collective efforts to dramatically improve public education, especially those programs serving low-income children and communities.  The Fellowship provides these leaders with the unique opportunity to step back from their demanding daily work to reflect with peers on their collective and individual impact as leaders and change agents. Fellows challenge each other to think beyond traditional silos and sector boundaries to develop strategies that enhance their effectiveness as leaders, address leadership challenges in public education, and accelerate the improvements needed to provide high-quality learning opportunities for all of our nation’s children.   “I am honored to be selected for the Pahara Fellowship and look forward to learning alongside the members of my cohort,” said Cardona.   To learn more about Cardona’s cohort of Pahara Fellows, visit [https://www.pahara.org/new-cohort-38](https://www.pahara.org/new-cohort-38).  Cardona joined CCAoA in January 2021 and provides leadership and outreach to the government, CCAoA members and the general public on issues relating to the early care and education system. He previously served in the Obama Administration as the Senior Policy Advisor for Elementary and Secondary Education on the White House Domestic Policy Council, and also held senior roles in the U.S. Senate, including as a principal advisor to the Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. While serving in Congress, Cardona wrote and led staff negotiations to pass the Child Care & Development Block Grant Act of 2014, a law that comprehensively updated the quality and safety standards in federally subsidized child care for the first time in nearly 20 years.  Topics: [Press Release](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press-release), [Press](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press) ### Written by [CCAoA](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/author/ccaoa) Previous Post [CCAoA Expands Disaster Preparedness Project in Midwest States](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/ccaoa-expands-disaster-preparedness-project-in-midwest-states) Next Post [New Report Finds Fewer Child Care Providers and Increased Prices, Highlighting Need for Significant Federal Investment in Child Care](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/new-report-finds-fewer-child-care-providers-and-increased-prices-highlighting-need-for-significant-federal-investment-in-child-care) ### Types of Media - [Media Mention (94)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/media-mention) - [News (7)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/news) - [Policy & Advocacy (5)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/policy-advocacy) - [Press (53)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press) - [Press Release (42)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/press-release) - [Provider Appreciation Day 2025 (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/provider-appreciation-day-2025) - [Workforce (1)](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/tag/workforce) [See all](https://info.childcareaware.org/media/mario-cardona-selected-for-pahara-fellowship-for-education-leaders#) ** ![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://www.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo-footer.png)![CCA Logo/Homepage link](https://www.childcareaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/logo-footer.png) ** Military Families × Close Panel ** ### Military Families × Close Panel ** × Close Panel