Gerard Robinson will be Florida's new education commissioner

After a months-long search and a long afternoon of interviews, it took the Florida Board of Education less than ten minutes Tuesday morning to name its next commissioner: Gerard Robinson.

Virginia's secretary of education won the board over with his track record, his ideals and his personal back-story.

In nominating him, member John R. Padget made note of the two years Robinson spent as a student in a community college before he continued on to earn his bachelor's degree at Howard University and his masters in education at Harvard University.

Padget said such a broad perspective is important, as Florida's schools must serve those students in danger of dropping out, or graduating high school without adequate preparation for college or the work force.

"I find in this man the ability to relate and connect the dots to what I perceive to be something very important for Florida," he said.

There was no discussion of the other candidates. The vote was unanimous.