Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios "Stasi" Kamoutsas discussed his oversight of the state education system, including recent misconduct in Alachua and Leon counties, in a discussion with Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power on Power Play!
Kamoutsas, appointed to the position in June, spoke to Power about an offensive remark made by an Alachua County school member after the passing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in September.
"I had to address a school board member, Tina Certain, who made a comment related to the passing of Charlie Kirk, specifically the memorial service, and in her distasteful comment, she said something to the effect of Charlie Kirk being an uneducated white boy," Kamoutsas said.
Kamoustas reminded Certain, who is black, and the board that some of her constituents are white and conservative.
"How do you think that makes your constituents feel that you are here to serve all members of the community?" Kamoustas asked Certain. "You have now alienated a population of students, parents, and teachers."
Kamoustas indicated that Certain would be back at the State Board of Education meeting in November for possible repercussions.
The Commissioner also discussed another issue in Alachua involving School Board Chair Sarah Rockwell.
In July, Rockwell was criticized for mocking the death of former pro wrestling star Hulk Hogan, after allegedly saying on her private Facebook account, "Good. One less MAGA in the world.”
Rockwell's comment was also condemned at a subsequent school board meeting, which, according to Kamoustas, got testy during public comment.
"These are the folks that are in charge with making decisions over the health, safety, and welfare of our students," Kamoustas warned. "For these folks to not serve as role models to the children in their community and to celebrate harm against those that we don't agree with is a problem for those who are leading educational environments."
He also promised to call out problems in the future.
Like Alachua, Kamoustas also condemned remarks made by Leon County School Board member Darryl Jones about Kirk. In September, Kamoustas sent out a memo warning educators not to make divisive comments about Kirk's passing, saying they are held to a "higher standard" as public servants.
"Any celebration of a school shooting, encouragement, promotion, even condoning it, I don't care if it's Bernie Sanders or Charlie Kirk, we are not going to tolerate teachers doing that," Kamoustas said. "Students are watching. These folks are role models in their community, and we cannot let students believe that violence is ever going to be glorified anywhere, let alone a school campus."
