Today the Florida state board of education unanimously chose Gerard Robinson as the state’s new education commissioner. Prior to his selection as Florida’s education lead, Robinson held the post of secretary of education in Virginia under Republican Governor Bob McDonnell for the past year and a half.
Florida Governor Rick Scott said in a statement that Robinson is an “experienced education reformer and advocate” and that Florida “needs to reach the next level of education reforms that will benefit both our students and the businesses of our state.”
Robinson’s background includes one year as a fifth grade teacher and two years teaching college courses. Robinson’s background as a practicing educator is minor and though he is considered to be an education reformer his appointment may place additional strain on relations between local teacher unions and state government. But Scott has shown his discontent with unions in the past.
Mr. Robinson is lauded as a huge proponent of charter schools and voucher systems, both are structures that Scott wants more of in Florida. But with parental choice increasing in popularity nationwide, Florida was probably next in line to try each system extensively.
While Robinson says that he’s a supporter of traditional public schools he hasn’t shown it with his zeal for charter schools and vouchers.
Vouchers, or parental choice programs, leave low-income and minority students out in the cold as public schools stand to suffer from such a system with more money being forwarded to private education institutions.
The Florida Chamber of Commerce was also in favor of the state school board choosing Robinson. The chamber is currently enthralled in a fight with local Central Florida unions over their support of Legislation that will bar state and local governments from gathering union dues through payroll deduction.
He arrives at a crucial time as there have been massive budget cuts to public educational funding and large blows dealt to teacher unions. How he chooses to navigate those treacherous waters will show how much he cares for public education and if he walks in step with Governor Rick Scott and state Republicans in their stand against unions.
