Superintendent of Public Instruction/ Commissioner of Education

Member of Cabinet: 1885 – 2003

Florida’s chief officer of public education was established as the Superintendent of Public Instruction under the 1868 Constitution. The Superintendent of Public Instruction became the Commissioner of Education under the 1968 Constitution. The Commissioner was one of the elected Cabinet posts until a 1998 constitutional amendment, effective January 2003, removed the now gubernatorial-appointed office from the elective Cabinet and changed the composition of the State Board of Education from the Governor and Cabinet to a board appointed by the Governor.

• C. Thurston Chase (1868-1870)
• Henry Quarles (1870-1871)
• Rev. Charles Beecher (1871-1873)
• Jonathan C. Gibbs (1873-1874)
• Samuel B. McLin (1875-1877)
• William Penn Haisley (1877-1881)
• Eleazer K. Foster (1881-1884)
• Albert Jonathan Russell (1884-1893)
• William N. Sheats (1893-1905) and (1913-1922)
• William M. Holloway (1905-1913)
• William S. Cawthon (1922-1937)
• Colin English (1937-1949)
• Thomas D. Bailey (1949-1965)
• Floyd Thomas Christian
  (Supt. of Public Instruction 1965-1969)
  (Commissioner of Education in 1969-1974)
• Ralph D. Turlington (1974-1986)
• Betty Castor (1986-1994)
• Douglas L. Jamerson (1994-1995)
• Frank T. Brogan (1995-1999)
• Thomas Gallagher (1999-2001)
• Charlie Crist (2001-2003)
• Jim Horne (2003 - 2004)
• John L. Winn (2004 - 2007)
• Jeanine Blomberg (interim) (2007)
• Eric J. Smith (October 5, 2007 – present)

Supt. of Public Instruction: (1868-1969)

 

 C. Thurston Chase (1868-1870)

[ - 1870]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 84 Superintendent of Public Instruction C. Thurston Chase annual report draft, 1870
  • S 244 Superintendent of Public Instruction letterbooks, 1869-1870, 1877-1913

 

 Henry Quarles (1870-1871)

No records at the archives

 

 Rev. Charles Beecher (1871-1873)

No records at the archives

 

 Jonathan C. Gibbs (1873-1874)

[1831-1874]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Jonathan C. Gibbs.
  • Search Gibbs, Jonathan C. (Jonathan Clarkson), 1831-1874 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records at the archives

 

Published materials:

• Brown, Canter. Florida’s Black Public Officials, 1867-1924. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1998.
• Neyland, Leedell W. Twelve Black Floridians. Tallahassee: Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Foundation, 1970.
• Williams, Learotha. “A Wider Field of Usefulness: The Life and Times of Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs c.1828-1874.” Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 2003.

 

 Samuel B. McLin (1875-1877)

[1833-1879]

 

As Secretary of State

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 151 Office of the Secretary of State
  • S 1325 Secretary of the Territory and Secretary of State incoming correspondence, 1831-1917

 

 William Penn Haisley (1877-1881)

[ - 1906]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
• S 244 Superintendent of Public Instruction letterbooks, 1869-1870, 1877-1913

 

 Eleazer K. Foster (1881-1884)

[ - 1899]

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 244 Superintendent of Public Instruction letterbooks, 1869-1870, 1877-1913
  • S 249 Superintendent of Public Instruction correspondence, 1882-1922

 Albert Jonathan Russell (1884-1893)

[1829 – 1896]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Albert Jonathan Russell.
  • Search Russell, Albert J. in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 244 Superintendent of Public Instruction letterbooks, 1869-1870, 1877-1913
  • S 249 Superintendent of Public Instruction correspondence, 1882-1922

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

Published materials:

• Sandeau, Jules. Life and Labors of Albert J. Russell. Jacksonville: DaCosta, 1897.

 

 William N. Sheats (1893-1905) and (1913-1922)

[1851-1922]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to William N. Sheats.
  • Search Sheats, W. N. (William Nicholas), 1851-1922 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 244 Superintendent of Public Instruction letterbooks, 1869-1870, 1877-1913
  • S 249 Superintendent of Public Instruction correspondence, 1882-1922
  • S 1121 Superintendent of Public Instruction William N. Sheats county correspondence, 1913-1921

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
• Papers, 1872-1922; 1949 (bulk 1911-1922). Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 

Published materials:

• Arthur O. White. “Race, Politics and Education: The Sheats-Holloway Election Controversy, 1903-1904.”Florida Historical Quarterly [January 1975].
• Paul Berk. “‘Dogmas Accepted as Divine:’ The Impact of Progressive Reforms in Florida’s Public Schools.” Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 2005.
• Joe M. Richardson. “’The Nest of Vile Fanatics’: William N. Sheats and the Orange Park School.”Florida Historical Quarterly [April 1986].

 

 William M. Holloway (1905-1913)

[1862- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to William M. Holloway.
  • Search Holloway, William M., b. 1862 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 244 Superintendent of Public Instruction letterbooks, 1869-1870, 1877-1913

Published materials:

• Paul Berk. “‘Dogmas Accepted as Divine:’ The Impact of Progressive Reforms in Florida’s Public Schools,” Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 2005.
• Arthur O. White. “Race, Politics and Education: The Sheats-Holloway Election Controversy, 1903-1904.”Florida Historical Quarterly [January 1975].

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 

 William S. Cawthon (1922-1937)

[1871-1963]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to William S. Cawthon.
  • Search Cawthon, William Stanmore, 1871-1963 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 1124 Superintendent of Public Instruction William S. Cawthon administrative files, 1922-1937

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

Published materials:

• Berk, Paul. “‘Dogmas Accepted as Divine:’ The Impact of Progressive Reforms in Florida’s Public Schools.” Ph.D. dissertation, Florida State University, 2005.
• Cawthon, William S. The status of our common schools: a paper read at the annual meeting of the Florida Education Association. Jacksonville, April 1, 1932.
• ___________________. A Semi-Centennial View of Public Education in Florida and Other Addresses. 1936.

 

 Colin English (1937-1949)

[1895- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Colin English.
  • Search English, Colin, 1895-1986 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 1125 Superintendent of Public Instruction Colin English administrative files, 1940 1947

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.

 

 Thomas D. Bailey (1949-1965)

[1897-1974]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Thomas D. Bailey.
  • Search Bailey, Thomas David, 1897-1974 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 282 Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas D. Bailey legal files, 1950-1963
  • S 292 Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas D. Bailey conference files, 1953-1963
  • S 1126 Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas D. Bailey correspondence, 1949-1965
  • S 1127 Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas D. Bailey subject files, 1949-1965
  • S 1128 Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas D. Bailey county correspondence, 1949-1962

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
• Speeches, 1965-1972. P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. 
• Education in Florida Subject Files, 1947-1978. P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Published materials:

• Bailey, Thomas D. Are the Public Schools Bankrupting the State? Tallahassee: Florida Education Assn, 1947.
• __________________. Schools to Keep us Free: An Address. Tallahassee, 1951.
• _________________. Trails in Florida Education. Tallahassee, 1963.
• _________________. An Odyssey in Education. Tallahassee, 1974.

 

 Floyd Thomas Christian
(Supt. of Public Instruction 1965-1969)
(Commissioner of Education in 1969-1974)

[1914- 1998]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Floyd Thomas Christian.
  • Search Christian, Floyd T., 1914-1998 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 301 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian general correspondence files, 1966-1973
  • S 302 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian press files, 1965-1974
  • S 303 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian state education programs files, 1965-1974
  • S 305 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian personal activities files, 1966-1970
  • S 306 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian county education issues files, 1966-1974
  • S 1129 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian federal education programs files, 1966-1973
  • S 1130 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian state government responsibilities files, 1964-1973
  • S 1294 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian speech files, 1965-1974
  • S 1736 Commissioner of Education Floyd T. Christian organizational affiliations files, 1949-1973

Other repositories:

• Biennial report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1892-1968. State Library of Florida, Tallahassee.
• Education in Florida Subject Files, 1947-1978. P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

 Ralph D. Turlington (1974-1986)

[1920 - ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Ralph D. Turlington.
  • Search Turlington, Ralph D., 1920- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 1464 Commissioner of Education Ralph D. Turlington administrative files, 1974-1986

Other repositories:

• Papers, 1968-1986. P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
• Oral History (May 18, 1974), Southern politics, 1973-1975, Southern Oral History Program, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
• Oral History, Florida Legislative Research and Museum, Tallahassee, Florida.

 

 Betty Castor (1986-1994)

[1941- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Betty Castor.
  • Search Castor, Betty, 1941- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 1355 Commissioner of Education Betty Castor administrative files, 1987-1991
  • S 1869 Commissioner of Education Betty Castor correspondence files, 1991-1992
  • S 1870 Commissioner of Education Betty Castor trip files, 1991-1992

 Douglas L. Jamerson (1994-1995)

[1947 – 2001]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Douglas L. Jamerson.
  • Search Jamerson, Douglas L., 1947-2001 in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

• RG 370 Florida. Dept. of Labor and Employment Security
  • S 1793 Office of the Secretary of Labor and Employment Security Correspondence and subject files, 1984-1991, 1996-2006
  • S 1898 Department organization files, 1978, 1997, 1999, 2001

 Frank T. Brogan (1995-1999)

[1953- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Frank T. Brogan.
  • Search Brogan, Frank T., 1953- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

As Commissioner of Education

• RG 402 Florida. Office of Commissioner of Education
  • S 2061 Commissioner of Education Frank Brogan correspondence files, 1996-1999

No records as Lieutenant Governor

 

 Thomas Gallagher (1999-2001)

[1944 - ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Thomas Gallagher.
  • Search Gallagher, Tom, 1944- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records at the archives

 

 

 Charlie Crist (2001-2003)

[1956- ]

Florida Photographic Collection:

• Images related to Charlie Crist.
  • Search Crist, Charlie, Jr., 1956- in the Florida Photographic Collection.

Collections at the State Archives of Florida:

No records as Commissioner of Education

 As Governor

• RG 109 Governor (2007 - : Crist)
  • S 2068 Restoration of felons' civil rights speaking points, 2007
  • S 2133 Sunshine Week contest essays, 2008

 Jim Horne (2003 - 2004)

No records at the archives

 

 John L. Winn (2004 - 2007)

No records at the archives

 

 Jeanine Blomberg (interim) (2007)

No records at the archives

 

 Eric J. Smith (October 5, 2007 – present)

No records at the archives

Related links:

• Dr. Eric J. Smith, Florida Department of Education.