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Fla. Board Of Education Names Interim Commissioner

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) — Less 48 hours after Gerard Robinson abruptly resigned, the State Board of Education named the education commissioner's short-term replacement.

On Tuesday morning, the board unanimously approved Pam Stewart, Chancellor of Public Schools at the Florida Department of Education, for the interim position.

Stewart will begin serving as interim Commissioner of Education when Commissioner Gerard Robinson steps down August 31.

In her current role, Chancellor Stewart leads the largest educational division in the department overseeing student achievement, curriculum, educator quality, and support for Florida's PreK-12 education system, which serves more than 2.6 million students and 189,000 educators.

The board also took action to move forward quickly with a search to fill the vacancy created by Commissioner Robinson's resignation and unanimously approved working with a search firm to facilitate the process.

"We are fortunate to have someone with the skills, experience and relationships with district leaders throughout the state who is able to help us through this transition," said State Board of Education Chair Kathleen Shanahan. "While we would like to have the search process move forward quickly, it is important that we take the time necessary to find the right leader for our state's educational system. We have accomplished a great deal during the past year and Pam will help ensure that we continue to move forward."

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