State Board to Vote on Making Pam Stewart Education Commissioner

Interim Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart may take on the job as full-time commissioner of education on Tuesday.

The state Board of Education is expected to vote on Tuesday to hire Stewart for the job instead of launching a national search. Stewart has held the position for six weeks since Tony Bennett resigned.

Im more along with keeping the steady hand at the helm we have right now, said John Colon, one of the members of the state Board of Education. It might be beneficial at this point to continue what we have rather than bring someone else up to speed.

This is the second time Stewart has held the interim commissioner post in the last year. She began her career in the '70s as a teacher in Hillsborough County and worked as a principal in Ocala. She also served as deputy superintendent in St. Johns County.

Pams knowledge of the department will enable Florida to continue rapid and smooth implementation of Common Core State Standards, which is my first priority, said board member John Padget.

Gov. Scott was on board with having Stewart as commissioner.

While this is the Board of Educations decision, we would be proud to have Pam Stewart as commissioner, Scott said in a statement. As a parent and grandparent, and a former teacher and principal, her leadership would provide our education system with valuable stability and experience at this point in our states history.