Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas encountered significant backlash during a speech at the Florida School Boards Association’s winter conference in Tampa on March 2025. His remarks, which included suggestions to close underperforming school districts and criticisms of local leaders, sparked widespread discontent among attendees, who responded with boos and protests.
Kamoutsas addressed a group of school board members and superintendents, urging them to move past complaints regarding the state’s Schools of Hope initiative, which seeks to co-locate charter schools in underused district facilities. He highlighted the success of Success Academy, a New York-based charter operator, as a model for educational achievement.
“This proven success is why Florida has committed to expanding the Schools of Hope model,” Kamoutsas stated. He asserted that these charter schools are held to the same performance standards as traditional public schools. However, his comments took a controversial turn when he suggested that the state might consider shutting down “failing” school districts.
The audience reacted strongly to this suggestion. Kamoutsas had previously criticized some attendees for lacking leadership and conviction, which likely contributed to the unrest in the room. As he attempted to continue his speech, many in the audience expressed their disapproval. Some individuals even walked out of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay ballroom.
After a brief period of discontent, Kamoutsas reiterated his expectations for school districts to innovate and improve. “This is not the moment to protect the way things work,” he emphasized. “We have a moral obligation to ensure that every child in Florida has access to a world-class education.”
While some attendees found value in Kamoutsas’s presence at the conference, others were less impressed. Beverly Slough, a board member from St. Johns County, criticized the Schools of Hope initiative for lacking financial support, stating that it leaves operational costs to local districts. “They pay nothing,” she argued.
Criticism of Kamoutsas’s approach continued, with Heather Felton from Manatee County commenting that his comments seemed threatening. “If you want to unite politically divided boards, he just did that,” Felton remarked, referencing the aggressive tone of the commissioner’s speech.
Board member Stephanie Vanos from Orange County expressed her surprise at the confrontational nature of Kamoutsas’s remarks, suggesting that his approach may hinder relationship-building among board members. “He came in with a message that this is the way we are doing it, and you better fall in line,” she noted.
Despite the backlash, some participants appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from Kamoutsas. Allison Campbell, president-elect of the Florida School Boards Association, acknowledged the value of his attendance, stating, “We don’t often get the opportunity to hear directly from him.”
The issue of co-location and the Schools of Hope initiative has generated varied responses across the state. Saul Speights, vice chairperson of Hamilton County’s school board, indicated that co-location is not a concern in his district, although he criticized the state’s broader attacks on public education.
As tensions between local education officials and the state continue to escalate, the future of the Schools of Hope initiative and its impact on Florida’s education system remains a contentious topic. Kamoutsas’s remarks at the conference reflect ongoing debates about educational policy and accountability in the state.
