In his first nine days on the job as Florida’s education commissioner, Gerard Robinson has learned one thing: listen to Gov. Rick Scott.
After meeting with the Department of Education leadership last week, Robinson said he has contacted the governor’s education policy team, “to start that initial dialogue.”
Robinson said his job as commissioner was akin to being an “executive administrator,” whose job is to implement the strategic plan of the State Board of Education, whose members are appointed by the governor, and “move forward with the governor’s vision for education in Florida,” he said in an interview with the News Service of Florida.
Taking a page out of the playbook of the last commissioner, Eric Smith, who was praised for his efforts to reach out to groups that are sometimes at odds, such as the teacher’s union, school superintendents, and charter schools, Robinson said he also wants to talk to education stakeholders and get their input on impending legislation.
“It’s too early to say what my personal goals will be,” Robinson said.
Robinson, 44, was the secretary of education for Virginia before being hired as Florida’s education commissioner. He was hired in June after Smith quit amid rumors Scott wanted him out.
When Robinson was selected by the State Board of Education as commissioner, it was with Scott’s blessing.
Robinson has an unusual background. He worked at a grocery store after graduating high school and earned an associate’s degree in business from a community college. After getting a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, Robinson said he taught for a year before deciding to dedicate his career to education policy.
He eventually earned a master’s degree from Harvard University and worked for the pro-school choice group Black Alliance for Educational Options before becoming secretary of education in Virginia.
As Florida’s education commissioner he earns $275,000 a year.
Robinson said in his first few days on the job he has also made it a point to try to boost morale at the Department of Education, which like other state agencies has suffered from recent budget cuts.
He said he has shaken hands with all the employees on at least four of the floors of Tallahassee’s 17-story Turlington Building, which houses the Department of Education.
Robinson was cautious in describing his support for teacher merit pay, the new law passed by the Florida Legislature that links teacher salaries to student performance on tests.
Robinson said Virginia instituted a similar policy, but it was only a pilot program, calling Florida’s law requiring merit pay for public school teachers more “formalized.”
He noted he has already heard varying opinions within the education community, noting “some don’t think it’s a great idea.” He said it is his job to implement the policy that the Legislature felt would reward good teachers.
When it comes to expansion for charter and virtual schools, Robinson compared charter schools to magnet schools, both of which are public schools but are allowed greater flexibility than traditional schools.
“Both use public money, both are free of some regulations as it relates to students,” Robinson said. He questioned why charters are often criticized and not magnets.
“Charters have become the most controversial,” he said. “I’m still not sure why.”
Robinson said he wants to focus on high quality schools, not just expanding all charters.
A law passed by the Legislature this year that allows high-performing charter schools to add grades or open new charter schools is the right approach, Robinson said.
Public schools have often said they are troubled that charter and virtual schools do not have to meet the same requirements as public schools, which are often bound by stricter accountability rules and guidelines.
Robinson said schools that use public funds should be held accountable.
But he said charter schools were created to give greater flexibility. Often, charters can operate under different hours, pay teachers differently, require parent contracts, and operate in non-traditional school buildings.
“When we talk about public schools that have received an A grade, there is some flexibility given to them,” Robinson said. “When charter schools are provided some flexibility it is called unaccountable.”
Robinson said his job as education commissioner leans more toward K-12 oversight than it did as Virginia’s secretary of education, where he was more involved in higher education policy.
So far, the only culture shock Robinson noted in moving from Virginia to Florida was the weather.
“The humidity is noticeable,” he said.
By Lilly Rockwell
