Commissioner Mack announces major Florida education leadership changes aimed at strengthening collaboration

Tallahassee, Florida – Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack announced a series of leadership and organizational changes Friday, saying the moves are intended to improve coordination, increase efficiency and reduce barriers between offices within the Florida Department of Education.

The changes, announced September 4, are designed to bring several areas of the department into closer alignment as Florida continues its work across education and workforce development. The department said the restructuring is focused on strengthening collaboration and supporting students, families, educators and other education leaders.

The new leadership structure affects several senior positions, including oversight of public schools, early learning, workforce programs, research, communications, operations and policy. The changes also bring expanded responsibilities to several department officials with years of experience in education and government.

“As Florida continues to lead the nation in education, our organizational structure must support effective collaboration, informed decision-making, and exceptional service to Florida’s students, adult learners, families, and education leaders and lawmakers,” said Commissioner of Education Henry Mack. “These talented leaders bring extensive experience, a deep commitment to public service, and a shared vision for educational excellence and freedom. I am honored to welcome these leaders to drive impact and deliver on the education and economic agenda of the Governor.”

One of the largest changes involves Senior Chancellor Dr. Paul O. Burns, who has been promoted to a position overseeing all of the department’s program offices and divisions. His responsibilities will include Florida Colleges, Career, Technical and Adult Education, Vocational Rehabilitation, Blind Services, the Commission for Independent Education, the Division of Public Schools, Safe Schools, School Choice and Early Learning.

The department said placing these areas under one senior leader is intended to improve coordination throughout Florida’s PK-20 education and workforce systems. Burns joined the department in 2018 as Deputy Chancellor of Educator Quality after bringing nearly two decades of experience in education.

Burns became Chancellor of Public Schools in January 2023, where he supported teaching and learning for Florida’s nearly 2.8 million students. He was elevated to Senior Chancellor in August 2024. Burns holds a doctorate from Saint Louis University and will continue serving students, families and educators in his expanded role.

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Flannery Sloan has been appointed Chief of Staff. She brings experience in organizational leadership, project management and interagency collaboration. In her new position, Sloan will serve as the commissioner’s principal adviser while coordinating departmental functions, workplans and communications.

Before joining the Department of Education, Sloan worked at the U.S. Department of Labor in Congressional Affairs and the Employment and Training Administration. She also previously worked at Turning Point Action. She earned a bachelor’s degree in civic and economic thought and leadership from Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University.

The department is also changing leadership within its Division of Early Learning. Katerina Maroney, known as Kat, has been named Chancellor for the division. She has spent more than 20 years working to improve opportunities and outcomes for Florida’s youngest learners.

Maroney has worked at the department and within the Division of Early Learning since 2005. Most recently, she served as Deputy Director of Programs and Policy. In her new role, she will continue leading efforts aimed at supporting high-quality early childhood education across Florida.

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Steven Koncar will take on a newly expanded position as Chief Strategy and Policy Officer. He will oversee the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement. Koncar most recently served as the department’s chief of staff and previously held positions in state and federal government. He earned a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School.

Another new position will focus on research and the use of data in policy decisions. Dr. Jay Menees has been named Vice Chancellor of Research and Policy, where he will coordinate research across divisions and work to strengthen the department’s use of information when developing policies.

Menees will also oversee efforts to modernize the department’s research functions, improve data integration with other agencies, including Florida Commerce, and promote greater innovation in data quality and transparency. He holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration and policy from the University of Florida and most recently worked as a Senior Policy Analyst for higher education and the economy at the America First Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

Communications will also receive a new leadership structure. Travis Jordan has been named Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, a role that expands the department’s communications function and focuses on stakeholder engagement, public awareness and communication initiatives.

Jordan has more than 15 years of experience in marketing and communications across higher education, state government and economic development. His previous leadership positions include work with Emory University, Miami Dade College, Western Carolina University and Enterprise Florida. He also served in a statewide marketing leadership role with the Florida Department of Education.

Jordan holds a master’s degree in Global Strategic Communications from Florida International University. Cassie Edwards, who has served as Director of Communications, will remain with the department as Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications.

Suzanne Pridgeon has also been promoted, becoming the department’s Chief Operations and Financial Officer. She has worked for the Department of Education since 2000 in a variety of positions and leadership roles and has served as Deputy Commissioner since 2019.

Her expanded responsibilities will include legislative and operating budgets, the Public Education Capital Outlay budget, Florida Education Finance Program allocations and student financial aid. She will also oversee budgets and operations across the department’s offices and divisions.

Pridgeon will continue managing the department’s day-to-day administrative operations, including personnel, accounting, general services, purchasing and procurement and emergency management. The department highlighted her background in education finance, accounting and operations as an important part of her expanded role.

Taken together, the changes represent a broad restructuring of the department’s senior leadership. Rather than focusing only on individual personnel moves, the department said the changes are intended to improve how its different offices work together and how information and decisions move across the organization.

The new structure is also aimed at supporting Florida’s education and workforce priorities by bringing public education, early learning, career and technical education, research, policy, communications and financial operations into a more coordinated framework.

Additional information about the Florida Department of Education’s leadership team is available through the department’s official leadership information page.