Greetings, Capital Tiger Bay Members
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Monday, March 16, for our Capital Tiger Bay luncheon featuring Leon County School Board Member Alva Smith. We appreciated the strong attendance and thoughtful engagement on what is clearly a timely and complex issue for our community.
We extend our sincere thanks to School Board Member Smith for a data-driven and candid presentation on the challenges facing Leon County Schools, including declining enrollment, budget constraints, and the difficult—but necessary—conversations around school consolidation and long-term sustainability.
In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): Recent Coverage
• WFSU Local News —WFSU Local News — A Leon school board member advocates for school closures at Tiger Bay
• Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Democrat: School board member Alva Smith speaks at Capital Tiger Bay Club lunch
Thank you again to all who joined us for a substantive and engaging discussion, and for contributing to the thoughtful Q&A that is a hallmark of Capital Tiger Bay.
Looking Ahead
We hope you will join us for our upcoming programs:
• March 31 – Florida Department of Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas
• Friday, April 3 – FAMU President Marva Johnson
*RSVP Below*
Please also keep an eye on your inbox for details on our May program and Save-the-Date for June 18 featuring Skip Foster, Founder of Red Tape Florida, a platform now in its second year focused on examining excessive permitting and local government bureaucracy.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Florida Department of Education
Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas
Join the Capital Tiger Bay Club as we welcome Florida Commissioner of Education Commissioner Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas for an inside look at the future of Florida’s schools. From expanding educational and career opportunities to strengthening parental rights and transparency, Commissioner Kamoutsas will discuss the priorities shaping Florida’s education landscape.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from Florida’s 29th Commissioner of Education on the policies driving the state’s next generation.
About the Speaker
Anastasios “Stasi” Kamoutsas, the 29th Commissioner of Education for the state of Florida, leads the state’s efforts to expand education and career opportunities, strengthen parental rights and ensure transparency in schools across the state. Following Governor Ron DeSantis’ recommendation of Stasi Kamoutsas to serve as Florida’s next Commissioner of Education, the State Board of Education unanimously selected him on June 4, 2025. Commissioner Kamoutsas is dedicated to preparing Florida’s students for their futures.
A native of Miami Gardens, Commissioner Kamoutsas began his career as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County, where he prosecuted some of the community’s most violent criminals. He later represented lawn enforcement officers as Counsel to the Dade County Police Benevolent Association. In 2019, he joined the Florida Department of Education’s Office of General Counsel, quickly rising to serve as General Counsel and then Chief of Staff. He went on to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Ron DeSantis, overseeing policy in the Governor’s priority areas of education, law enforcement and emergency management.
Over the last six years, Commissioner Kamoutsas has played a key role in shaping Florida’s education policy. He has been deeply involved in the state’s efforts to protect parental rights, expand school choice, eliminate DEI and CRT, and preserve education freedom. He was also instrumental in opposing COVID mask mandates and advancing the Governor’s successful push to reopen schools for in-person learning in 2020. His steadfast leadership has signaled a continued commitment to ensuring Florida remains the nation’s leader in bold, student-centered education reform.
Commissioner Kamoutsas earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Florida International University and his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law. He is a devoted husband and the proud father of four daughters, drawing daily inspiration from his family as he works to safeguard the future of Florida’s children.
Friday, April 3, 2026
Capital Tiger Bay Club Hosts
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University President Marva Johnson
About our Speaker
Marva Johnson, J.D., MBA, is the thirteenth president of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and a tenured Professor in the University’s College of Law. President Johnson assumed the presidency on August 1, 2015, as a distinguished leader in business, legislative affairs, and public education policy.
In 2014, she was appointed to the Florida State Board of Education and elected chair in 2015. During her tenure, she championed policies aimed at improving educational outcomes for all students, playing a vital role in implementing performance-based funding measures to encourage state colleges to improve student success metrics, including graduation rates. Johnson also worked to enhance accountability across the state’s colleges, with a focus on closing achievement gaps and ensuring that all students had access to high-quality, low-cost education options.
President Johnson holds the distinction of serving as a member of Florida’s 2018 Constitution Revision Commission and chair of the Education Committee. Her leadership in education reform has consistently focused on creating pathways to education excellence for students of all backgrounds.
Before assuming the presidency, Johnson served as Group Vice President of State Government Affairs for Charter Communications. In this role, she focused on expanding broadband access, particularly in underserved communities, and oversaw state government affairs, regulatory and local franchising matters, state legislative issues, and strategic partnerships. She also led government and community initiatives across nine southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. President Johnson is deeply committed to community service. She has served on the boards of several organizations focused on providing educational opportunities to youth, including the Florida Virtual School and Pace Center for Girls. Additionally, she serves as a mentor and provides leadership development through several local, state, and national organizations. She has received many accolades and was recently recognized by Florida Trend magazine as one of the Top 500 Most Influential People in Florida.
President Johnson earned her Juris Doctor from the Georgia State University College of Law. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Georgetown University. She is a wife, mother, and a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Become a Capital Tiger Bay Club Member
Click Here: Capital Tiger Bay Membership Application