1. the person who holds the secretaryship of the Department of Education - Carter appointed Shirley Hufstedler as the first Secretary of Education • Syn: Secretary of Education • Hypernyms: secretary 2. the position of the head of the Education Department - the post of Education Secretary was created in 1979 • Syn: Secretary of Education • Hypernyms: secretaryship • Member Holonyms: United States Cabinet, US Cabinet