Florida. Dept. of Education.

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.

Floyd Thomas Christian was born on December 18, 1914, in Bessemer, Alabama, and moved to Florida in 1927 with his family. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1933, received an A.B. degree from the University of Florida in 1937, and a Master's degree in Education from the University of Florida in 1950. In 1948 he was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction for Pinellas County. He remained in this position until his appointment as State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1965. He became the first Commissioner of Education in 1969 and served until 1974.