League of Women Voters of Florida: Not so fast on new FL Education Commissioner. (Florida Phoenix)

I agree with LWV. 

We need a national search for an Education Commission

We need a proven educator, like Pamela Stewart.

The Commissioner of Education must not be a payoff to right-wing extremists who want to cramdown Charter Schools.

Outgoing term-limited lame duck Florida House Speaker RICHARD CORCORAN (R-Land-o-Lakes), a graduate of REGENT UNIVERSITY, founded by racist, sexist, homophobic TRUMP-loving televangelist PAT ROBERTSON, son of a segregationist U.S. Senator. 

Reactionary dotard "Rev." PAT ROBERTSON immodestly named his law school building and School of Government after himself. (Query: is violating the First Commandment?).

Regent University - Robertson Hall, home to the School of Law and Robertson School of Government

League of Women Voters of Florida: Not so fast on new FL Education Commissioner

Florida Phoenix

By Diane Rado -December 7, 2018
The League of Women Voters of Florida is reminding the State Board of Education to do its job on selecting a new Education Commissioner.

Essentially, that means doing a national search for the best candidate rather than quickly choosing Governor-elect Ron DeSantis’s choice — former House Speaker Richard Corcoran.

“As members of the State Board of Education you not only have the opportunity, but a constitutional responsibility, to conduct a national search to find the person who is best suited to oversee Florida’s system of public education,” League president Patricia Brigham wrote in a letter Friday to State Board of Education chair Marva Johnson and other board members.

The letter also reminds the board that it has the responsibility to pick the new Education Commissioner — not the governor.

“At a minimum, Floridians expect you to carry out a due diligence process aimed at ensuring Florida’s students that an individual of the highest possible caliber oversees public education. We urge you to take this important duty seriously and not simply “rubber stamp” a politically motivated choice,” Brigham wrote.
DeSantis on Thursday recommended Corcoran for the job.
If approved, Corcoran would follow Pam Stewart, who has served since 2013. She announced earlier this week that she was stepping down and plans to retire.
Corcoran, 53, has been one of the most powerful House Speakers in decades and has represented influential Pasco County in the state Legislature. An attorney, he graduated from a small law school at Regent University, a private Christian university. He’s been a champion of nontraditional charter schools and voucher programs that allow kids to go to private schools.

He’s a passionate supporter of school choice – the idea that students shouldn’t have to go to the school in their particular neighborhood.

But not all educators, union officials, lawmakers and even families may have the same views as Corcoran. In Florida, traditional public schools have been pitted against public charter schools run by private groups.