I think what he is saying is that she could hardly do a worse job than those who preceded her. And he goes on to note the many social ills which a Federal Department of Education cannot remedy.
The latest figures I've seen, the US has fallen to 35th in the world, right behind Zimbabwe or Kenya or some such places.
In other words, we suck now, as far as educational skills of our kids go when compared to the rest of the word.
Two words describe this disgusting, degrading, disappointing disaster: Teachers unions.