We will act on Wednesday’s recommendations from state board of education Governor Ron DeSantis. He was named Anastasios I. Florida’s 32nd Board of Education.
Kamoutsas, 36, is one of four vice chiefs of staff in Desantis’ office. Before taking that post in 2023, he served as the general counsel and chief of staff at the Department of Education, where he played an active role on notable issues such as reopening schools and abolishing diversity programs during the pandemic.
He is also involved in overhauling the state’s higher education system into a more conservative model, former commissioner Richard Corcolan added that Camoutes has fingerprints on all of Florida’s major education policy initiatives over the past seven years.
The change was necessary after the University of West Florida, named Manny Diaz Jr., who was a member of the education committee for the past three years, and served as its interim president. Diaz will begin the role in July.
State Commission Chairman Ben Gibson noted that Diaz will head to West Florida before the next board meeting. To ensure continuity in leadership, he cited the board a new commissioner to require Diaz to be the university’s permanent president.
“In these circumstances, we are often making a leap of faith when people come in,” Gibson said. “There’s a chance to choose someone here (and) don’t have to guess how they’ll perform.”
Members of the Desantis team began speaking about Kamoutsas as a social media education committee early on Tuesday.
The praise was spoken on behalf of newly appointed Florida International University President Giannet Nunez, Miami-Dade University Councillor Michael Bileca, Florida lottery secretary John Davis, and several others.
“He’s tough, he knows how to get things done,” said Tory Alston, president of Broward University, a former DeSantis appointee of the Broward County Board of Education.
Camoutes, from Hialea, calls everyone “Stasi” – a lawyer who came to the state after serving as a prosecutor at the Miami State Lawyer’s Office and as a lawyer for the Dade County Police Department charity.
Several supporters spoke of Camoutes as a man of a religious family and a man of strong belief following his views. He is a strong supporter of the Desantis agenda on education and other topics, including the anti-abortion referendum in November, and has disrupted the anti-signature neighbourhood association with several campaign signs in his garden.
“Many people who have supported the people in front of them work behind the scenes. Stasi has worked in the background for years at the snifferent,” said former House Speaker Jose Oliva, a current member of the Governor’s Committee. “He’s an incredible man of principles. If I had to use a word to describe him, he would say he’s not merciless.”
As some supporters have said, its reputation goes to the point where Camusus has been effective at getting things done, and some observers suggest that he is the most feared staff member in the Governor’s suite.
Speaking to the board before the vote, Camusus noted the efforts of Corcoran and Diaz to promote educational issues, such as keeping inappropriate books out of school libraries.
“You can feel at ease as I continue to ride the baton and race,” he said.
He said that students will prioritize safety and achievement and will make continuous choices.
“Students get an education, not indoctrination,” he said. “Parents will speak up in their children’s classrooms and teachers will be supported.”
Board members agreed with his appointment and rarely asked him any questions.
“We’re going to be a great hand,” said board member Esther Bird. “Thank you for being happy to accept this.”
