Associated video: Tampa Bay leaders advocate for native priorities in finances talks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Board of Training has tapped a prime aide of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to be the state’s subsequent schooling commissioner, a selection meant to influence K-12 and higher education policy within the state whereas bolstering a conservative legacy that would lengthy outlast the governor’s time in workplace.
The board voted unanimously Wednesday to nominate Anastasios Kamoutsas, a deputy chief of employees to the governor. The job opened up after Commissioner of Training Manny Diaz, a former Republican state lawmaker, was named interim president of the College of West Florida. Kamoutsas’ appointment is contingent on Diaz being named the everlasting president of UWF.
“Scholar security and achievement will likely be my prime priorities,” Kamoutsas mentioned. “Dad and mom will proceed to be empowered. And lecturers, you could have my phrase that I stand in assist of you.”
Kamoutsas beforehand served as common counsel and chief employees on the state’s Training Division, earlier than transferring to the governor’s workplace.
“Stasi Kamoutsas has delivered on essential points like parental rights, college selection, and combating again in opposition to radical ideologies in schooling,” DeSantis mentioned in an announcement. “I’m assured that he’ll proceed to serve our state effectively as the following Commissioner of Training.”
Kamoutsas is predicted to assist perform DeSantis’ conservative schooling agenda, from banning public funds for range, fairness and inclusion efforts, to restricting how schools teach about race and history, and dramatically increasing the state’s school voucher system, which offers billions in public funds for scholarships to private and religious schools.
Amongst those that lauded Kamoutsas at Wednesday’s assembly was former Commissioner of Training Richard Corcoran, who has overseen what critics describe because the “hostile takeover” of New Faculty of Florida. He is among the many slate of Republican former state lawmakers who are actually helming state colleges and universities.
“Each single main resolution, I do not care if it was elimination of DEI, vital race principle, opening colleges, demasking college students, altering larger schooling, Stasi has been in that room, each single time,” Corcoran mentioned. “And never simply as a participant. He is been within the room as a pacesetter.”
Kate Payne is a corps member for The Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points.
