For more than three decades, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy Devos (the 11th Secretary and third woman to hold this post) has worked to level the playing field and make educational opportunities available for all students regardless of financial means. As the mother of four grown children and grandmother of five, she’s a firm believer that one size does not fit all when it comes to children and their education. 

I sat with the Secretary in her office at the Department of Education as she shared her perspective on a number of topics: her role as Secretary, teacher shortages, student loan debt, diversity of thought and opinion on college campuses, education freedom scholarships, where her passion and commitment for education and education reform and modernization come from, and more. She also talked candidly about her family, the American Dream, her faith, and her marriage (she’s been married to husband Dick Devos for almost 40 years). Her thoughtful perspective, passion, and approach to her work is insightful and inspiring, as is her advice on dealing with criticism, mentorship, forging successful partnerships, staying focused, and saying “yes” to new challenges!