Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran To Step Down In April

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran announced Thursday he will be stepping down from his position at the end of April.

Corcoran has served as Commissioner of Education for more than 3 years since his appointment in December 2018.

"Richard has been a champion for students and families, and a great leader of the Department of Education," said Governor Ron DeSantis.

"He is driven by his principles and has never shied away from making the difficult decisions needed to improve the quality of education in Florida. During his tenure, both in the House and at the Department, our state has become an education juggernaut and national leader for innovation. We wish him well and thank him for his service."

"Like the rest of the nation, Florida's school districts have had to weather some of the greatest difficulties they have ever experienced over the past two years, and I couldn't think of a better governor to serve," said Commissioner Corcoran.

"Governor DeSantis has been the governor Florida deserves – he has unquestionably been the right leader, at the right time, in the greatest state in the nation, and I thank him and the members of the State Board of Education from the bottom of my heart for the faith they have put in me. Florida's students will unquestionably continue to thrive under Governor DeSantis' leadership."

No replacement has been announced but CBS News Miami Jim DeFede said Senator Manny Diaz Jr. is believed to be at the top of DeSantis's list.