Tallahassee - Thursday April 21, 2022: Governor Ron DeSantis has recommended the appointment of Florida State Senator Manny Diaz Jr. as Education Commissioner. The recommendation to the State Board of Education follows the departure of former Commissioner Richard Corcoran.
“Manny Diaz has done a great job in the Legislature on education issues ranging from teacher pay to parental rights and choice,” said Governor DeSantis. “I am confident that he will serve our state well as the Commissioner of Education.”
If confirmed by the board, Sen. Diaz would be the first Hispanic Commissioner of Education in Florida history.
“It is an honor to be recommended by Governor DeSantis to serve as the Education Commissioner,” said Senator Manny Diaz, Jr. “For my entire career I have worked to improve the education system to serve Florida’s students, parents and teachers. I am excited to get to work continuing the mission of the Governor to make Florida the Education State.”
Diaz has sponsored a number of Governor DeSantis’ education priorities including a bill replacing the state’s standardized testing program, and a bill that would limit how schools teach about race and identity.
Education measures sponsored by Sen. Diaz:
• SB 1048, eliminating the FSA and creating the F.A.S.T. progress monitoring assessment in Florida.
• SB 758, creating the Charter School Review Commission.
• SB 268/HB395, creating the proclamation on “Victims of Communism Day.”
• SB 148/HB 7, eliminating CRT and woke training in Florida schools and businesses.
• SB 7044, reforming higher education in Florida.
• SB 1054, requiring financial literacy education in Florida schools.
• SB 2524, expanding access to Family Empowerment Scholarships.
Sen. Diaz has served in the Florida Legislature since 2012. He has been a teacher, coach, assistant principal and school administrator. He received his bachelor’s degree from St. Thomas University, a master’s degree in education from Nova Southeastern, and he completed a Harvard Graduate School of Education program for principals.