Most large school districts in Florida have an appointed school superintendents. Escambia County is the largest district that still elects its school leader.
Yesterday, the Brevard County School Board picked Desmond Blackburn to be the new superintendent of Brevard Public Schools.
The board voted 4 – 1 in favor of Blackburn, currently the chief of school performance and accountability for Broward County Schools. Blackburn was one of three finalists the board interviewed Monday.
Here are Blackburn’s credentials:
•Education: Ph.D in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, Master of Science from Nova Southeastern University, Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from University of Florida
•Past positions (all in Broward County): Area superintendent, area director of school improvement, principal of Ramblewood Middle School, assistant principal of Sunrise Middle School, mathematics teacher at Plantation High School
•Other credentials: CEO of D & G Leadership, Inc., adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University
•Awards: Named to list of “50 Most Powerful Black Business Leaders” by Legacy Magazine in 2014; recognized as an “Administrative Outlier” by National Alliance of Black School Educators in 2011; named “Father Who Makes a Difference” by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 2013.
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Here were Malcolm Thomas’ prior to being elected in 2008:
•Education: Bachelor and Masters, University of West Florida
•Past positions (all in Escambia County): Director, Evaluation Services; Coordinator, Program Planning; Educational Data Specialist; Educational Staffing Specialist; Department Head for Exceptional Student Education, Tate High; Teacher, Tate High
•Other credentials: Home Builder, United States Army, 101st Airborne Division
•Awards: Escambia Association of Administrators in Education, Member of the Year in 2006; Optimist of the Year, Ensley Optimist Club in 1992; George Washington Educator Medal (National Freedom Foundation Award) in 1986; Panhandle Region Teacher of the Year (finalist for Florida Teacher of the Year) in 1985; Escambia County Teacher of the Year in 1985; Tate High School Teacher of the Year in 1984
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Broward – where Blackburn comes from –is a “B” school district (503 points). He is going to Brevard which is also a “B” school district (519 points).
Escambia is a “C” school district (467 points).
