Florida’s Department of Education Commissioner Eric Smith is calling it quits in June.
Smith said in a statement that there is need to “allow our newly elected Governor to have input…on the type of leader to pursue his goals for education.”
Appointed back in 2007 by then Governor Charlie Crist as Florida’s Education Commissioner, Smith was supportive of efforts to reform how teachers are paid by linking salaries to test scores and eliminating multi-year contracts.
Smith’s resignation comes at a time when implementation of a major overhaul in education and teacher merit pay are soon to get underway.
“It has been my privilege to serve as Commissioner during a period in which Florida demonstrated bold national leadership in the field of education, Smith said.
