Florida Department of Education Chief of Staff Anastasios Kamoutsas addressed the Alachua County School Board directors this week over conduct concerns.
Kamoutsas criticized Alachua County School Board Vice Chair Tina Certain for “repeated lapses in professionalism and conduct” that, he argued, “have officially brought negative attention to the school district because of [her] selfish acts.”
At the meeting, Kamoutsas said the board had previously told Alachua County officials that future meetings would be monitored by state staff due to prior compliance concerns.
“One would expect that at a minimum, the board would proceed with caution,” Kamoutsas expressed. “Yet, at the very next meeting on September 2, Vice Chair Certain openly questioned the legitimacy of the State Board of Education’s findings and recommendations.”
Kamoutsas accused Certain of undermining the state’s oversight process and failing to maintain decorum during public meetings. He also cited a social-media post she made following the memorial service of Charlie Kirk, calling Certain's comments “disturbing and inflammatory.”
“Young, impressionable minds foresee adults not led by example—by celebrating violence in a school shooting, by endorsing and glorifying a school shooter,” Kamoutsas expressed. “That is a terrible mistake.”
He further alleged that Certain had shown a pattern of questionable behavior. He referenced an incident in which a student was awarded “most likely to be a dictator,” and she “did nothing.”
Kamoutsas said that four district schools currently hold D grades, which is nearly 10% of all campuses in Alachua county. “You have officially brought negative attention to the school district because of your selfish acts,” he accused. “Why are you not prioritizing your students?”
He pledged that the Florida Department of Education and State Board of Education will continue monitoring the Alachua school district until it “complies with the law, protects parental rights, and ensures that every student is put first.”
“Vice Chair Certain, I will see you at our November State Board of Education meeting, where you will be asked some very difficult questions. Until then, I recommend you govern yourself accordingly,” he concluded
