Florida’s new education commissioner set to be confirmed

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The state Board of Education is set to verify a new education commissioner on Friday.

Manny Diaz, Jr. is set to take the helm of education in Florida.

Diaz takes over for Richard Corcoran, who has stated he’s stepping down to spend extra time together with his household.

Diaz has served within the Florida Legislature since 2012. The South Florida Republican has additionally been a trainer, coach, assistant principal and college administrator.

Diaz will change into the state’s first Hispanic commissioner of education.  

“Manny Diaz has done a great job in the Legislature on education issues ranging from teacher pay to parental rights and choice,” Gov. Ron DeSantis stated in an announcement.

DeSantis really useful Diaz final week after Diaz’s lengthy historical past of sponsoring conservative payments and initiatives.

One of the largest modifications this 12 months is eliminating FSA testing, with a substitute set to begin this fall.

Diaz additionally sponsored the person freedom invoice which the governor signed into legislation. It bans faculty classes that make college students really feel uncomfortable, focusing on crucial race idea.

Diaz stated lecturers shouldn’t combine historical past, with private views.

“A teacher can’t impose their views about something on the student, and make them feel like if they don’t adopt it, that their grade is going to be hurt,” Diaz stated. “And on top of that cannot impose guilt for example, saying someone who is white is responsible for Jim Crow laws or slavery, when they weren’t alive or responsible, we have to judge people by their deeds and their character.”

He additionally pushed for the parental rights in education invoice that prohibits classroom instruction on gender identification and sexual orientation in kindergarten by means of third grade in public faculties.

But Diaz additionally has discovered center floor within the senate as he sponsored laws to improve trainer salaries.

We have seen faculties across the bay space battle to preserve lecturers within the classroom, now his purpose is to discover extra methods to recruit, and reward those that do keep.

“I think it’s important for us to make sure we make the profession attractive, for people coming into the profession,” he stated. “But at the same time, still incentivizing those who are preforming to stay in.”