TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The State Board of Education unanimously voted Friday to confirm Manny Diaz Jr. as Florida's new education commissioner.

Diaz's appointment becomes effective June 1, one month after Richard Corcoran formally leaves May 1. Corcoran said he was stepping down to spend more time with his family.

Senior Chancellor Jacob Oliva will act as interim commissioner from May 2 to May 31. 

“I am incredibly thankful for Governor (Ron) DeSantis’ commitment to improve the quality of education we provide to our students, and for the opportunity to build upon the amazing work that Commissioner Corcoran and the Florida Department of Education have accomplished,” Diaz said. “I am extremely humbled and appreciative of the faith and trust that the State Board of Education has placed in me. Rest assured, Florida will continue to serve students, parents, and educators in our quest to provide students with a world-class education that meets the unique and individual needs of all students.”

Diaz has served in the Florida Legislature since 2012. The South Florida Republican senator has also been a teacher, coach, assistant principal and school administrator.

Diaz will become the state’s first Hispanic commissioner of education.  

“Manny Diaz has done a great job in the Legislature on education issues ranging from teacher pay to parental rights and choice,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a statement.

DeSantis recommended Diaz last week after Diaz’s long history of sponsoring conservative bills and initiatives.

One of the biggest changes this year is eliminating FSA testing, with a replacement set to start this fall.

Diaz also sponsored the individual freedom bill which the governor signed into law. It bans school lessons that make students feel uncomfortable, targeting critical race theory.

Diaz said teachers shouldn’t mix history with personal views.

“A teacher can’t impose their views about something on the student, and make them feel like if they don’t adopt it, that their grade is going to be hurt,” Diaz said. “And on top of that cannot impose guilt for example, saying someone who is white is responsible for Jim Crow laws or slavery, when they weren’t alive or responsible, we have to judge people by their deeds and their character.”

He also pushed for the parental rights in education bill that prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade in public schools.

But Diaz also has found middle ground in the Senate as he sponsored legislation to increase teacher salaries.

As schools around the Bay area struggle to keep teachers in the classroom, his goal is to find more ways to recruit and reward those who do stay.

“I think it’s important for us to make sure we make the profession attractive, for people coming into the profession,” he said. “But at the same time, still incentivizing those who are performing to stay in.”