A top DeSantis aide could become Florida’s next education commissioner
A key aide to Gov. Ron DeSantis with little public profile could soon rise to the nationally prominent post of Florida’s education commissioner.
Anastasios I. Kamoutsas, one of DeSantis’ four deputy chiefs of staff, has emerged as one of the most frequently mentioned choices to replace Manny Diaz Jr., who becomes the University of West Florida’s interim president in July. If selected, he would follow other top aides into high-level posts, including James Uthmeier as attorney general and Alex Kelly as commerce secretary.
Though relatively unknown outside the governor’s inner circle, Kamoutsas, known informally as “Stasi,” has had a lengthy involvement in education issues, having served as general counsel and chief of staff in the Department of Education before joining the governor’s staff two years ago.
“If it’s education policy in the state of Florida over the last seven years, Stasi’s fingerprints are there,” said Richard Corcoran, a former education commissioner who currently leads New College of Florida.
Corcoran reeled off a litany of issues in which Kamoutsas, 36, has been involved, including ending school mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, and revamping the state’s higher education system with new, more conservative leadership.
“He gets that we need to make sure we’re making real fact-based decisions that we can stand behind,” said Corcoran, adding that Kamoutsas “really knows what he believes and he’s going to fight for it.”
Diaz said although he hadn’t been asked, he would endorse Kamoutsas as his replacement when the State Board of Education considers appointing a commissioner on Wednesday.
“He certainly has the institutional knowledge and the ability to take that role,” Diaz said.
Other alternatives for the post might be more scarce, he noted, given that DeSantis leaves office in 18 months and whoever wins the governor’s office might have different ideas about the Education Department.
“No one is going to leave another state or something like that,” Diaz explained. “I can’t imagine a superintendent would leave (their district) with the timing and the unknown.”
Viewed as a loyal DeSantis supporter, Kamoutsas has been attached to an NBC report of making fundraising calls for a DeSantis-connected political committee, and of preventing the promotion of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement official who was prepared to publicly release DeSantis travel records against the governor’s office staff direction.
Kamoutsas also has a reputation as an office enforcer, with the Florida Politics website recently calling him “one of the most feared staffers” in the governor’s suite. Diaz acknowledged Kamoutsas can be tough, saying that’s what chiefs of staff do.
“To be a chief of staff, you’ve got to have some toughness. You want to get things done,” Diaz said. “He did a very good job of that.”
Few other names have come up in the speculation over who will lead Florida education policy, which is often an indicator of national education trends.
Some insiders mentioned Hialeah Republican State Rep. Alex Rizo, an educator with ties to Diaz. Rizo laughed and said he had heard that rumor once, too, but “no one has spoken to me about it.”
He then referred to Kamoutsas as the person rising in likelihood for the job.
By contrast, Democrats asked what they knew about the commissioner vacancy said they were not familiar with Kamoutsas.
The State Board has not revealed who it is considering for the post.
Kamoutsas did not respond to requests for comment. His wife is a lawyer for the State University System.
Jeffrey S. Solochek is an education reporter covering K-12 education policy and schools. Reach him at jsolochek@tampabay.com.