Gov. Ron DeSantis has recommended that Sen. Manny Diaz, Jr. (R-Hialeah) become the next commissioner of the Florida Department of Education. Diaz would replace current FDOE Commissioner Richard Corcoran who is resigning the post this month after occupying it since 2018.
Diaz was a teacher, coach, and school administrator before being elected to the State Legislature in 2012. Since 2019 he has sponsored several pieces of education-related legislation including SB 1048 which eliminates the Florida Statewide Assessment (FSA) and creates the F.A.S.T. Progress monitoring assessment system in Florida, and SB 7044 which requires all Florida public colleges and universities to post on their websites all tuition and fees connected to their academic programs including the cost of books and other instructional materials.
“Manny Diaz has done a great job in the Legislature on education issues ranging from teacher pay to parental rights and choice,” said DeSantis while making the recommendation. “I am confident that he will serve our state well as the Commissioner of Education.”
Senate President Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) said that Diaz is a good choice to move Florida’s education system forward.
“I am confident Senator Diaz is the right leader as we continue to implement historic school choice initiatives that will increase competition within our public school system,” Simpson said.
If he is appointed by the State School Board, Diaz would be the first Hispanic commissioner in the state’s history.
