Who will be Florida’s next education commissioner?
Floridians won’t have to wait long to find out who will be Florida’s next education commissioner.
State Board of Education chairperson Ben Gibson has added an item to the board’s June 4 agenda for a discussion on how to replace Manny Diaz Jr., who was chosen to lead the University of West Florida earlier this week.
Speculation is running high among education advocates and activists as to who might take the commissioner post, which lately has been a high profile bully pulpit for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda including support for vouchers and opposition to diversity programs. Florida has been among the acknowledged leaders in setting the national education agenda for several years.
But only a few names have circulated, with one DeSantis staffer — deputy chief of staff Anastasios Kamoutsas — getting mentioned frequently.
The board agenda gives no clues, as it includes no attachments for “Consideration of the Appointment of Commissioner of Education.” Gibson did not respond to an email asking who might be under consideration.
The State Board, which is filled with DeSantis appointees, is responsible for choosing the commissioner. Before DeSantis took office, the board would hold national searches for the job, taking the governor’s advice into consideration.
That process ended after the brief tenure of Tony Bennett, who came to Florida from Indiana’s top education post in 2012 and left under a cloud less than a year later. Since then, the board has not held searches, instead looking to internal candidates or relying on the governor’s choices.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2025/05/29/who-will-be-floridas-next-education-commissioner/