New state education commissioner an advocate for vouchers, school choice
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 6:28 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Posted: 5:04 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2011
TALLAHASSEE — The state Board of Education took little time during a meeting today to name Gerard Robinson, secretary of education in Virginia, to be Florida's next education commissioner.
Robinson, who was picked from a group of 26 applicants, was appointed to Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's Cabinet last year.
He previously served as president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to "increase quality educational options for black children" and advocates for school choices outside of traditional public schools.
Robinson, 44, has spent much of his career advocating for education reform, including broader access to charter schools, school vouchers and virtual schools, things that Florida Gov. Rick Scott also supports.
He and former Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith were among