DeSantis aide Anastasios Kamoutsas elevated to Education Commissioner
The Turlington Building, which houses the Florida Department of Education, stands in the foreground, with the Tallahassee skyline, including the Capitol building, beyond. Photo taken from the FAMU campus on Dec. 31, 2024. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix)
Anastasios Kamoutsas, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis, received unanimous approval from the Florida Board of Education Wednesday to serve as the state's next education commissioner.
Florida's education commissioner plays a major role shaping education policy in a state that has drawn national attention for its contentious policies on library book removals, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
'If given this opportunity, you can rest assured that I will take the baton and continue to run the race,' Kamoutsas told the Board of Education Wednesday morning.
Education commissioner to leave post, become interim president at University of West Florida
He started at the Department of Education in 2019, serving as general counsel and eventually as chief of staff, before joining the governor's office in 2023.
DeSantis came out in full support of Kamoutsas Tuesday, saying 'Stasi Kamoutsas has delivered on important issues like parental rights, school choice, and fighting back against radical ideologies in education.'
The job opened after Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. was named interim president of the University of West Florida. He will take that job in July, making Wednesday's meeting likely his last as commissioner.
Kamoutsas' approval as commissioner is contingent on Diaz being named the official president of UWF after a search, board Chair Ben Gibson said.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
'A lot of times in these situations, we are taking somewhat of a leap of faith in having a commissioner come in, … Here we have an opportunity, members, I believe, to choose someone we don't have to guess, really, how they're going to perform,' Gibson said. 'And someone who's been in the trenches at every level of the department, has been involved in every major education decision that the state of Florida has made over the last six years.'
During the public comment period, political figures lined up to praise Kamoutsas, including Florida International University President and former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, New College of Florida President and former Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, former House Speaker Jose Oliva, and Broward County College President Torey Alston.
'If I had to use one world to describe him, I'd say he's relentless,' Oliva said, while others praised him for his work ethic and family values.
'What's been the gem that's been hiding in the background is coming public,' Diaz said, attesting to Kamoutsas' involvement in previous policies and actions by the department.
'He understands that history because he's been present for a good amount of it inside the department, inside the governor's office, but he's heard the battle stories from President Corcoran, from Speaker Oliva, from Chancellor [Ray] Rodrigues, from myself, so he understands the history and where we came from in this reform, and he's perfectly equipped and willing to continue it,' Diaz said.
In addition to pledging to fight for parental involvement in the education system, Kamoutsas appealed to teachers, too.
'Teachers, you have my word that I stand in support of you. Whether that's maintaining discipline in your classrooms or working with the governor on continued pay increases, know that I have your back,' Kamoutsas said.
The Washington Post reported in 2023 that Kamoutsas, who worked in the governor's office, was responsible for denying a pending promotion to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement attorney who advocated for the governor's travel records to be public. The attorney 'was not on our team,' the paper reported Kamoutsas as saying.
The push to hide details of the governor's travel records came before DeSantis ran to be the GOP nominee for U.S. president.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
11 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Speech from OPEC head to kick off Global Energy Show in Calgary
CALGARY - More than 30,000 people from 100 countries are expected to descend on the white-collar heart of Canada's oilpatch next week for the Global Energy Show, which is to kick off with a keynote address from the head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC secretary-general Haitham al-Ghais is set to deliver remarks on Tuesday morning, as recent output increases from his group's members and other producers have put pressure on global crude prices. Among the other speakers are 20 chief executives from major Canadian and international energy companies and several political leaders, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Energy show organizers say Calgary is expecting a 30 per cent increase in hotel bookings for the conference and trade show, and that exhibition space has been increased by one fifth year-over year. Nick Samain, senior vice-president at DMG Events, said as of two weeks before the event, pre-registrations were 78 per cent higher than last year. He says the show is seeing a big turnaround since the oil bust of 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic. 'There's a sense of optimism that the show really hasn't had in a long time,' Samain said in an interview. 'Operationally, we've been going crazy to make sure we've got enough room for everybody.' The exhibition hall in the newly refurbished BMO Centre on the Calgary Stampede grounds is to feature a record 11 country pavilions and 500 company booths. The event was called the Global Petroleum Show until 2020, when it was rebranded to highlight the growing number of non-oil-and-gas participants in the energy space, such as nuclear and renewables firms. Samain said at the trade show, oil and gas makes up about 70 per cent of exhibitors, with other forms of energy making up the rest. The conference comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war throws global trade into disarray, raising the prospect of a global downturn that could dampen energy demand. The trade strife has driven calls for Canada to diversify its export markets for its energy products beyond its biggest customer, the United States, and remove some of the logjams that have prevented infrastructure from being built over the past several years. Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to speed up and simplify the regulatory process for projects deemed in the national interest. Samain said the show is an opportunity for people to hash out competing views about Canada's energy future. 'We're just big proponents of people meeting face to face,' he said. 'We find when people get together at an event like this, it really does (give) the opportunity for people maybe to see a different perspective.' A week after the Global Energy Show, another major event drawing dignitaries from abroad is to take place in a popular recreation area in the Rocky Mountains an hour west of Calgary. Canada is to host leaders from the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union at the G7 summit from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Speech from OPEC head to kick off Global Energy Show in Calgary
CALGARY — More than 30,000 people from 100 countries are expected to descend on the white-collar heart of Canada's oilpatch next week for the Global Energy Show, which is to kick off with a keynote address from the head of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. OPEC secretary-general Haitham al-Ghais is set to deliver remarks on Tuesday morning, as recent output increases from his group's members and other producers have put pressure on global crude prices. Among the other speakers are 20 chief executives from major Canadian and international energy companies and several political leaders, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. Energy show organizers say Calgary is expecting a 30 per cent increase in hotel bookings for the conference and trade show, and that exhibition space has been increased by one fifth year-over year. Nick Samain, senior vice-president at DMG Events, said as of two weeks before the event, pre-registrations were 78 per cent higher than last year. He says the show is seeing a big turnaround since the oil bust of 2015 and the COVID-19 pandemic. "There's a sense of optimism that the show really hasn't had in a long time," Samain said in an interview. "Operationally, we've been going crazy to make sure we've got enough room for everybody." The exhibition hall in the newly refurbished BMO Centre on the Calgary Stampede grounds is to feature a record 11 country pavilions and 500 company booths. The event was called the Global Petroleum Show until 2020, when it was rebranded to highlight the growing number of non-oil-and-gas participants in the energy space, such as nuclear and renewables firms. Samain said at the trade show, oil and gas makes up about 70 per cent of exhibitors, with other forms of energy making up the rest. The conference comes as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war throws global trade into disarray, raising the prospect of a global downturn that could dampen energy demand. The trade strife has driven calls for Canada to diversify its export markets for its energy products beyond its biggest customer, the United States, and remove some of the logjams that have prevented infrastructure from being built over the past several years. Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to speed up and simplify the regulatory process for projects deemed in the national interest. Samain said the show is an opportunity for people to hash out competing views about Canada's energy future. "We're just big proponents of people meeting face to face," he said. "We find when people get together at an event like this, it really does (give) the opportunity for people maybe to see a different perspective." A week after the Global Energy Show, another major event drawing dignitaries from abroad is to take place in a popular recreation area in the Rocky Mountains an hour west of Calgary. Canada is to host leaders from the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy and the European Union at the G7 summit from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Georgia man sentenced to 15 years for meth trafficking linked to Mexican cartel
The Brief Justin Harris Vinson was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation involved undercover operations and surveillance by multiple agencies, leading to the arrest of Vinson and his co-defendant, Shana Rae Black, who was also sentenced for meth distribution. Both Vinson and Black have prior felony drug convictions, and their arrests are part of efforts to stop the flow of dangerous drugs into Southwest Georgia. ALBANY, Ga. - A Warwick man who admitted to dealing large quantities of methamphetamine on behalf of a Mexican drug cartel during the COVID-19 pandemic has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Justin Harris Vinson, 42, was sentenced Tuesday to 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Vinson pleaded guilty on Sept. 17, 2024, to one count of methamphetamine distribution. There is no parole in the federal system. Prosecutors said Vinson told investigators he had been selling meth "his entire life," and at the height of the pandemic in 2020, he distributed up to three kilograms per week across South Georgia and North Florida on behalf of the cartel. His co-defendant, Shana Rae Black, 34, of Cordele, was sentenced on Feb. 28 to 168 months in prison after pleading guilty to the same charge. The backstory The investigation involved multiple undercover drug buys and surveillance operations carried out by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the FBI, with support from local law enforcement. On Oct. 27, 2022, a confidential informant working with the Crisp County Sheriff's Office purchased methamphetamine from Black at a Perry motel, where a pistol was reportedly seen on a nightstand next to drugs. Four days later, a GBI agent posing as a buyer met Black at a Walmart in Cordele and purchased meth under audio and video surveillance. Agents later observed Vinson act as a broker during a Nov. 2 drug deal, where Black delivered 284.4 grams of meth at a Cordele motel. Vinson kept $300 from the transaction and was seen with a firearm. Black was arrested on Nov. 7 while returning from McDonough, Georgia. Investigators found nearly a kilogram of 97% pure methamphetamine, a smaller amount of 91% pure meth, a digital scale, and multiple phones in her vehicle. A subsequent search of her motel room revealed another firearm, suspected meth, scales, and packaging materials. In January 2023, Vinson sold 277 grams of meth to a confidential informant and was again seen with a firearm. A search of his Warwick home days later uncovered six firearms, including one in an open bedroom safe. Vinson and Black both have prior felony drug convictions in Georgia. What they're saying "Repeat convicted felons who weaponize themselves and distribute hazardous, illegal drugs in our communities will be brought to justice," said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. "Alongside our law enforcement partners, our office is working nonstop to identify those offenders causing the most harm." "This prosecution closes a pipeline for dangerous drugs flowing into the streets of Southwest Georgia," said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta office. The Source The United States Attorney's Office, Middle District of Georgia provided the details for this article.
