09/11/2026
🇺🇸Florida Education Commissioner Mack announces leadership shake-up to boost efficiency, coordination.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack announced a series of leadership and organizational changes Friday at the Florida Department of Education, reshuffling senior roles as the agency looks to improve coordination across the state’s education and workforce systems.
The changes include a new chief of staff, expanded responsibilities for Senior Chancellor Paul O. Burns and several new or restructured leadership positions overseeing policy, research, communications and department operations.
“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,” Mack said.
Burns, who has been promoted, will oversee all of the department’s program offices and divisions, including Florida colleges, career and technical education, vocational rehabilitation, blind services, public schools, safe schools, school choice and early learning.
The department said the consolidation is intended to improve coordination across Florida’s pre-K through higher education system and workforce programs.
Burns joined the department in 2018 as deputy chancellor of educator quality and became chancellor of public schools in 2023. He was elevated to senior chancellor in 2024.
Flannery Sloan was appointed chief of staff and will serve as Mack’s principal adviser while coordinating department functions, work plans and communications. Sloan previously worked at the U.S. Department of Labor in congressional affairs and the Employment and Training Administration. She also previously worked for Turning Point Action.
Steven Koncar, who most recently served as the department’s chief of staff, will move into a new position as chief strategy and policy officer. He will oversee the Office of Legislative Affairs and the Division of Accountability, Research and Measurement.
The department also named Katerina Maroney chancellor of the Division of Early Learning. Maroney has worked at the department and within the division since 2005, most recently serving as deputy director of programs and policy.
Jay Menees was named vice chancellor of research and policy, where he will coordinate research across department divisions and work to modernize the agency’s use of data. His responsibilities will include integrating data with other state agencies, including FloridaCommerce. Menees most recently served as senior policy director for higher education and the economy at the America First Policy Institute in Washington.
Travis Jordan was named chief marketing and communications officer, an expanded position focused on communications, stakeholder engagement and public awareness. Jordan has held leadership positions at Emory University, Miami Dade College, Western Carolina University and Enterprise Florida and previously served in a statewide marketing role for the Department of Education.
Cassie Edwards, who served as communications director, will remain at the department as senior adviser for strategic communications.
Suzanne Pridgeon was promoted to chief operations and financial officer, expanding her oversight of the department’s finances and operations. Pridgeon has worked at the department since 2000 and has served as deputy commissioner since 2019.
Her responsibilities will include overseeing departmental budgets and operations, the Florida Education Finance Program, student financial aid and Public Education Capital Outlay funding, as well as personnel, accounting, procurement and emergency management.
Mack said the restructuring is intended to “drive impact and deliver on the education and economic agenda of the Governor.”
Florida Voice News / Kennedy Owens / September 4, 2026
Pictured: U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor and incoming Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Henry Mack. (Photo/Department of Labor website)
