Florida. Dept. of Public Instruction.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction was created by the 1868 Constitution. In the 1885 Constitution, the Superintendent became an elected official. The Superintendent headed the Dept. of Public Instruction (1869-1938) and the State Dept. of Education (1939-1968). Under the 1968 Constitution, the name was changed to Commissioner of Education and the position became one of the elected Cabinet posts. The Commissioner heads the Dept. of Education and serves as chief state school officer.

The first Superintendent of Public Instruction was C. Thurston Chase who served from 1868 to 1870. Between 1877 and 1913, the position of Superintendent was held by William P. Haisley (1877-1881); Eleazer K. Foster (1881-1884); Albert J. Russell (1884-1893); William N. Sheats (1893-1905); and William M. Holloway (1905-1913).