Governor-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced Thursday announced her intent to nominate Jacob Oliva, a key education leader in Florida, as the Secretary of the Department of Education. Oliva’s nomination replaces Johnny Key of Mountain Home, who currently is serving as Secretary of Education.
Oliva currently serves as the division of public schools chancellor for the Florida Department of Education, overseeing the teaching and learning of more that 2.9 million students in approximately 3,600 public schools.
Sanders states she intends to work in partnership with the State Board of Education to appoint him and serve in a dual role as the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Oliva began his career as a special education teacher. Over the past 20 years, has served in a variety of positions, including as a principal and superintendent.
Key served as commissioner of education since 2015, and cabinet secretary for the Department of Education since 2019. Over the past several years, he has overseen the return of the Little Rock School District to local control and schools’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented new school safety measures, and has been at the center of the debate surrounding teacher pay.
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