(CNN) President-elect Joe Biden promised to nominate a teacher for education secretary -- and could quickly put his choice into a political pressure cooker, as teachers' unions balk at school reopening plans and Biden seeks to reopen most schools within 100 days of taking office. Biden's goal is to have his remaining Cabinet selections announced by Christmas, a transition official told CNN -- a timeline that means he would need to choose a nominee for education secretary within days. The handful of candidates sources said were under serious consideration demonstrates the political pressures Biden is facing. Some would be welcomed by teachers' unions, but could face fiercer Republican opposition in the confirmation process. Biden is also considering Leslie Fenwick, the dean emeritus of the Howard University School of Education and an education policy professor, and Miguel Cardona, Connecticut's education commissioner, another source familiar with the matter said.

Source: CNN December 19, 2020 13:07 UTC