TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Board of Education unanimously approved Henry Mack as the state’s new education commissioner on Wednesday.
Read more ‘The No. 1 killer of kids’: Inside Florida’s child drowning crisis
Mack, a former senior chancellor at the Department of Education and most recently the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor, was recommended for the position by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday.
“It is an honor beyond words to be entrusted with stewarding Florida schools at this pivotal moment,” Mack told the Board.
Mack replaces Anastasios Kamoutsas, who recently became president of Polk State College, and interim commissioner Paul Burns, a senior chancellor at DOE. The position pays approximately $330,000 a year.
Burns said it was an honor to be the interim president for the three weeks he served and looked forward to working with Mack.
“As a parent himself, I know that he believes in parental rights and in school choice, and so board members I just wanted to share that today, you will be making an excellent choice for Florida’s students, for all of Florida’s educators and for Florida families by choosing Dr. Mack to be our next commissioner of education,” Burns said.
Mack worked for DOE from 2019-2023, led the state’s career and technical education initiatives and heavily supported DeSantis’ parental rights policies.
“I am confident Dr. Mack will build on Florida’s record of success in education,” DeSantis said in a statement. “He shares our commitment to parental rights, school choice, eliminating radical ideologies from the classroom, and preparing every student for success in the workforce and in life.”
Read more U.S. Rep. Cory Mills the subject of a DOJ probe: reports
Florida College System presidents, including those from Miami-Dade College, St. Petersburg College and Pasco-Hernando State College, spoke in favor of Mack as the new commissioner, as well as the head of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and career and technical education professionals throughout the state.
“Dr. Mack is a leader, I also believe he’s anointed. You’ve heard several people talk about his skill set, but I’ll close with he is also chosen for such a time as this,” said Mel Ponder, president of Northwest Florida State College.
During his time with DOE, Mack was critical of diversity, equity and inclusion programs and a proponent of “classical” education, a teaching approach backed by conservatives.
“Florida is restoring the classical aims of public education — starting by confining woke ideology to ‘the dustbin of history,’” he posted on social media in 2023.
Mack has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America and a doctorate in education from the University of Miami.
He has taught courses in religion and philosophy at the University of Miami and Florida International University.
“Dr. Mack is a respected academic. He is very forward thinking, and I believe he will support our students and our parents,” said Vice Chairwoman MaryLynn Magar.
Read more Pictures: Sentinel’s “History of Downtown Orlando” forum