Manny Diaz Jr.: Education commissioner to revamp teacher development

Manny Díaz Jr. was in the Legislature from 2012 to last week, first in the House and since 2018 in the Senate. Upon entering the legislature, he began advocating for education. This week he became state education commissioner.

He began as a teacher and coach at Miami Springs Senior High and Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High, which gave him first-hand knowledge of the school system. He was also a founding partner of the Beyond the Bell Learning Center in Miami Springs. 

Something “that has always been near and dear to my heart is [the] development of others,” he said. “The clearest sign of a leader is one who develops those that work with them or for him and never stand in their way but try to develop them.” 

As commissioner of education, Mr. Díaz has atop his priority list to implement the Florida Standards Assessments, recruit and retain more teachers, and improve the professional development system for educators. 

Mr. Díaz spoke with Miami Today reporter Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow. 

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