Getting an appointment with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is challenging, and it's also a challenge to put Duncan in an ideological box. Though he champions education reforms favored by Republicans such as charter schools and teacher merit pay, his opposition to school vouchers and his solid working relationship with teachers unions keep him in good standing with his Democratic allies. The key to Duncan's success seems to be that his interest in education runs much deeper than ideological posturing. The list of Duncan's accomplishments as secretary of education is extensive. Most recently, his department unveiled the Income-Based Repayment Plan, which aims to provide federal student loan payment relief for borrowers struggling to repay their loans in a tight job market. This article presents excerpts from Duncan's interview in which he seeks to attract more men of color into the teaching profession and promote access to a quality education as a fundamental civil right.