{"id":447,"date":"2026-05-13T19:31:50","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:31:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=447"},"modified":"2026-05-13T19:31:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T19:31:50","slug":"another-desantis-ally-is-in-line-for-a-presidential-post-at-a-state-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=447","title":{"rendered":"Another DeSantis ally is in line for a presidential post at a state college"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida\u2019s education commissioner, is the sole finalist in Polk State College\u2019s presidential search, the school announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=445\">How bad is the sargassum in South Florida today? Here\u2019s a way to check<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>If selected, Kamoutsas would become the latest of many public university and college presidents in Florida with ties to Tallahassee.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>He has served as commissioner of education since last summer, and was previously the general counsel and chief of staff for the state Department of Education. Kamoutsas also served as Gov. Ron DeSantis\u2019 deputy chief of staff.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>As education commissioner, Kamoutsas championed the expansion of apprenticeship programs in K-12 schools, colleges and universities. He has also pushed for the removal of sociology from general education requirements in the Florida college system.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Kamoutsas is also known for targeting K-12 school district officials over books in school libraries and clashing with union leaders.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Polk State College has six campuses in Bartow, Lake Wales, Lakeland and Winter Haven. The college enrolls nearly 15,000 degree-seeking students.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Last summer, a state Department of Government Efficiency report showed the school had the largest decline in enrollment among Florida\u2019s public colleges. The Tampa Bay Times found that the Winter Haven campus has a graduation rate of 32%, the lowest among the state\u2019s public colleges.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Polk State College trustees will consider the search committee\u2019s recommendation at their board meeting on June 3. The same day, Kamoutsas will visit the college to meet with students, faculty, staff and community members, according to the college.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Any final decision would be approved by the state Board of Education, which oversees the state\u2019s 28 public colleges. As education commissioner, Kamoutsas sits on the Board of Governors, which governs Florida\u2019s 12 public universities.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>In the last few years, it\u2019s been common to see individuals with political ties become Florida college and university presidents.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=443\">Florida gave Trump an illegal gift in presidential library deal, new lawsuit says<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>New College of Florida\u2019s President Richard Corcoran first served as speaker of the Florida House and later as education commissioner.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Jeanette Nu\u00f1ez, DeSantis\u2019 former lieutenant governor, became Florida International University\u2019s president. Marva Johnson, a former chairperson on the State Board of Education, became president of Florida A&amp;M University. Manny Diaz Jr., the state\u2019s education commissioner before Kamoutsas, became president of University of West Florida.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Eric Hall, who was selected as Pasco-Hernando State College\u2019s president last year amid controversy surrounding a DOGE report, was first a secretary at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Polk State College used Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting firm, and received over 100 applications in the national search.Trustee Steve Lester led a search committee, which was comprised of other trustees, the faculty senate president, professors and community members.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnastasios distinguished himself as an inspiring, diligent, and highly capable leader with a clear vision for the future of Polk State College,\u201d Lester said. \u201cWe are confident that he possesses the experience, character and leadership necessary to guide Polk State into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>In a post on X on Wednesday, Kamoutsas said he is excited to support partnerships between K-12 schools, colleges and universities.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo matter the position I serve in, I remain committed to the belief that education is the foundation of opportunity and the key to a stronger future,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p><i>The Tampa Bay Times Education Hub reports on Florida\u2019s schools and universities and the students they serve. You can contribute to the hub through their journalism fund by clicking here.<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=441\">Pair arrested after 130 mph+ Turnpike chase with troopers in Miami-Dade: FHP<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anastasios Kamoutsas, Florida\u2019s education commissioner and DeSantis ally, is the sole finalist for Polk State College president, with trustees to vote June 3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":446,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-florida-politics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Another DeSantis ally is in line for a presidential post at a state college - 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