In the two years Miguel Cardona has been in the nation’s top education job, he’s faced several unprecedented challenges. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan and in another ruling essentially overturned affirmative action, bucking 45 years of precedent. The nation is in the midst of a teacher shortage and a historic wave of book banning attempts from parents and conservative activists as Republican politicians shore up their bases for the 2024 presidential race. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] And yet, when TIME spoke to Cardona on the phone, the Secretary of Education remained optimistic about the progress he sees being made.