Meet The Florida Board of Education

Background

The Florida Board of Education oversees the Florida Department of Education.

The Board is a committee of 7 members and the Commissioner of Education, which are all appointed by the Florida Governor to direct public K-12 & Community College education.

Before 2003, the Commissioner of Education was originally a Cabinet-level position filled by an election. But by a voter-approved revision to the Florida Constitution, the Commissioner of Education became an appointed position.

The revised constitution also created the new Florida Board of Education.

Education Commissioner: Tony Bennett

Board of Education Members:

Mr. Gary Chartrand
Chair, State Board of Education
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Term: May 16, 2011 – December 31, 2014

Mr. John R. Padget
Vice Chair, State Board of Education
Key West, Florida
Term: May 13, 2009 – December 31, 2016

Dr. Ada G. Armas
State Board of Education, Member
Coral Gables, Florida
Term: February 7, 2013- December 31, 2016

Mr. John A. Colon
State Board of Education, Member
University Park, Florida
Term: February 7, 2013 – December 31, 2014

Mrs. Barbara S. Feingold
State Board of Education, Member
Delray Beach, Florida
Term: July 18, 2011 – December 31, 2013

Ms. Kathleen Shanahan
State Board of Education, Member
Tampa, Florida
Term: January 6, 2006 – December 31, 2013

Pam Stewart
Florida Department of Education, Commissioner
325 W. Gaines Street
Suite 1514
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Phone: 850-245-0505
Fax: 850-245-9667

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July 23, 2015

State Board Of Education Sets New Goals For Some Teacher Evaluations

The State Board of Education has approved a new statewide standard for the test-based portion of teacher evaluations. State law requires that teachers are evaluated each year. That evaluation must include how well that teacher’s students performed on standardized exams — and whether they did better or worse than expected, based on a complex statistical […]

August 28, 2014

Read: School Boards Group Outlines Consequences Of Skipping State Tests

Last night, the Lee County school board became the first district to refuse state testing entirely. Other Florida school districts are also considering saying no to state exams. The Florida School Boards Association is meeting next week and has posted an outline of the consequences for not complying state law. The first step is an […]

March 12, 2014

Florida Educators Face Unknown Destination As They Wait On Test Decision

Florida schools will be giving a new standardized test about a year from now. But which test is still up in the air until Education Commissioner Pam Stewart announces her choice later this month. A new test is needed because Florida schools will complete the transition to new math and language arts standards in every […]

February 19, 2014

Listen: A Mom Explains Why Florida Testing Policy Needs To Change

At yesterday’s State Board of Education meeting, Orlando mom Andrea Rediske scolded members for state and federal rules requiring standardized testing. Rediske’s son, Ethan, recently became a national story because Andrea Rediske was forced to submit a testing waiver as her dying son was in a morphine coma. Tuesday, she sought support for the Ethan […]

February 18, 2014

State Board Tweaks Standards Despite Objections

The State Board of Education approved changes to the state’s K-12 standards that keeps calculus and cursive writing, and clarifies and adjusts when some standards are taught. The board approved the changes despite dozens of parents and activists asking the board to rescind the standards. The vote marks another –possibly final — transformation for Florida’s […]

February 12, 2014

Explaining The Proposed Changes To Florida’s School Grading Formula

Florida’s school grades would focus on student performance on state tests, graduation rates and earning college credit or industry certifications, according to a proposal posted at the Florida Department of Education website. Florida’s school grades were intended to be an easy-to-understand way for parents to know how their child’s school is performing. But educators have […]

January 21, 2014

Florida Schools Chief: No Break From School Grades During Switch To New Test

Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said she doesn’t support a proposal from state school superintendents to overhaul the school grading system as Florida switches to new math and language arts standards — and statewide tests — next school year. The Florida Association of District School Superintendents want state leaders to replace the A-through-F grades with […]

January 8, 2014

Education Commissioner Outlines Plans For Standards, School Grades, Evaluations And Privacy

The Florida Department of Education could suggest about 40 changes to the state’s K-12 standards, including requiring the teaching of cursive writing and the use of decimals when counting money. But Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart said the changes were minor and would have little impact on students, teachers and administrators preparing for the final […]

December 27, 2013

The Biggest Florida Education Stories of 2013

Here’s our pick for the biggest education stories of 2013 — a few of which will likely dominate 2014 as well. Tony Bennett’s Resignation Bennett came to Florida in January with a reputation as a rising star among self-proclaimed education reformers and a leading voice for the Common Core English, literacy and math standards fully […]

November 21, 2013

Florida Superintendents Want To Replace School Grading System

Florida school superintendents are asking state leaders to revamp the state’s A through F school grading system — including eliminating the letter grades — as the state completes the switch to new math, English and literacy standards. That’s according to a proposal the Florida Association of District School Superintendents released Thursday. Volusia County schools superintendent […]