Who is Anastasios Kamoutsas? State panel OKs DeSantis pick for Education Commissioner

Industry,

By C. A. Bridges

Gov. Ron DeSantis didn't look far for his pick to be the new Florida commissioner of education.

On June 3, he recommended one of his top aides, deputy chief of staff Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas, to replace Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., who was elected a week prior to be interim president of the University of West Florida.

And on June 4, with Kamoutsas' wife, four daughters and other family in the audience, the State Board of Education unanimously approved him for the job at its meeting at Miami-Dade College. In remarks to board members before the vote, he promised to focus on "education, not indoctrination." His appointment is pending Diaz's approval at UWF.

The former education commissioner joins a growing rank of DeSantis allies to head universities and colleges in Florida as the governor continues to leave his mark on education in the Sunshine State.

https://www.news-press.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/04/desantis-anastasios-kamoutsas-florida-education-commissioner/84024908007/