The Florida Board of Education appointed Paul Burns as interim education commissioner on Tuesday.
Burns, a Department of Education senior chancellor, was unanimously approved to step into the role of commissioner as Anastasios Kamoutsas exits to become president of Polk State College.
“He has led on nearly every initiative of this administration, diligently serving side by side with senior leadership, to keep the mission of the department in focus and keeping students first,” said board Chair Ryan Petty. “I have full confidence that he will continue the smooth and tireless operations in the Department of Education.”
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Burns, who joined the department in 2018 as deputy chancellor of educator quality, has also served as chancellor of K-12 public schools and currently oversees the Division of Early Learning, the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement, the Office of School Choice and the Office of Safe Schools.
Burns previously served as principal at Sarasota's Riverview High School in 2016-17. He was also an assistant principal at Riverview and Venice High after the Sarasota County school district hired him in 2014. Before coming to Florida, he taught French for 11 years in St. Louis.
“I am humbled to serve as Interim Commissioner of Education,” Burns said in a department press release. “I am grateful to the Board for the trust placed in me to continue the mission of prioritizing student achievement and school safety.”
Under his leadership, the state has implemented numerous conservative reforms, including the Parents Bill of Rights, book removals and changes to sex education and the state’s social studies standards.
"Alongside Department leadership, he has fought tirelessly for parental rights and protecting children, never losing focus through some public and contentious fights," the press release says.
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Burns makes approximately $193,000 as chancellor, and Kamoutsas makes approximately $330,000 as education commissioner, according to state data.
Before Kamoutsas was appointed commissioner, he was deputy chief of staff for Gov. Ron DeSantis. In June 2025, he succeeded Manny Diaz Jr., who became president of the University of West Florida a month later.
Kamoutsas will begin his tenure as Polk State College’s sixth president on Monday and joins a number of DeSantis allies who have taken prominent educational roles the past couple of years.
The list includes former Sen. Ray Rodrigues, who is university system chancellor; former House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who is president of New College of Florida; former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, who is president of Florida International University; former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is president of Florida Atlantic University; former Rep. Mel Ponder, who is president of Northwest Florida State College; former Rep. Tommy Gregory, who is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota; former Rep. Fred Hawkins, who is president of South Florida State College; and former Rep. John Temple, who is president of Lake-Sumter State College.
