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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November 19, 2013

Florida Superintendents Want Three-Year Extension To Prepare For New Standards

Florida school superintendents are asking for three additional years to fully switch to math, English and literacy standards known as Common Core. Florida is one of 45 states to adopt the standards, which outline what students should know at the end of each grade. Kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms are using the standards now. […]

What To Expect At Today’s State Board of Education Meeting

Last month, the Florida Department of Education listened to 13 hours of comments about the state’s math, English and literacy standards at public forums and gathered another 19,000 comments online. But don’t expect any action on those suggestions when the State Board of Education meets in Gainesville today. The agency says they’ll provide an overview […]

October 30, 2013

Sound Off: Deadline Is Tomorrow For Comments On Florida’s K-12 Standards

If you’ve got concerns about Florida’s K-12 math, English and literacy standards — or a suggestion about how to improve them — you’ve got until tomorrow to submit them to the Florida Department of Education. The agency is gathering feedback at the request of Gov. Rick Scott. So far the agency has received more than […]

September 25, 2013

The Pros And Cons Of Appointing Florida’s Schools Chief

For our story this week about all the pressure facing Florida’s education commissioners we spoke with two former education commissioners — one elected and one appointed. Florida elected education commissioners until 2003, when a state constitutional amendment made the job appointed. Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Jim Horne as commissioner in 2003. Now, the governor appoints […]

September 17, 2013

State Board Picks Pam Stewart As Education Commissioner

Pam Stewart twice stepped in to replace departing Florida education commissioners. Today she got the job long-term. The State Board of Education unanimously chose Stewart to be the state’s education commissioner. She follows Tony Bennett, who resigned from the post last month. Board member John Colon said he wanted the continuity Stewart brings to the […]

A Scott, Bush Split On State Board Of Education

Two State Board of Education members criticized Gov. Rick Scott’s leadership on education issues Tuesday, highlighting a rift between Scott and former Gov. Jeb Bush. Board members Kathleen Shanahan and Sally Bradshaw — who served as former Bush chiefs of staff — said Scott needed to show more leadership on Common Core State Standards and […]

August 13, 2013

Is Florida’s School Grading System Too Complicated?

Florida officials made just two major changes to the state formula which determines A-to-F school grades during the first six years of its use — adding a component to measure student test improvement from year-to-year and expanding the number of students included in the formula. But since 2010 the state has made 16 changes to […]

July 30, 2013

Which Districts Have The Most ‘Safety Net’ Schools?

Last week, 549 Florida schools earned a letter grade higher than they would have based on the state formula alone thanks to a State Board of Education-approved “safety net.” That’s because no school grade could drop by more than one letter grade this year. School superintendents asked for the protection because more than 30 factor […]

Bennett Defends Decision to Boost Indiana Charter School Grade

Florida Education Commissioner Tony Bennett stands by his decision to boost the grade of an Indiana charter schools in 2012, when Bennett was the Hoosier State’s elected superintendent. The Associated Press published emails Monday which showed Bennett and his staff discussed ways to boost the grade of Christel House charter school after learning the school’s […]

July 26, 2013

2012-2013 Florida Elementary And Middle School Grades

The Florida Department of Education released 2013 elementary and middle school grades, part of the state’s school accountability system. The data includes each component of the school’s score and demographic data.