Leaders weigh in as state may punish Leon Superintendent for 'politically-charged' statements

After news spread across the state that the Florida Department of Education would pursue possible punishment against Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna, local leaders are weighing in – from elected officials and political parties to state-wide advocacy groups.

"In another brazen abuse of his power, Governor Ron DeSantis is threatening the licensure of Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna, a champion for equality who has rightly been critical of the governor’s assaults on education, freedom, and the LGBTQ community," wrote Equality Florida spokesperson Brandon Wolf.

The Leon County GOP, however, praised the DeSantis administration's move to potentially penalize the superintendent for "politically charged statements" and allegedly infusing his "personal views" into his school administration.

"His pattern of acting out and then apologizing to try and avoid responsibility needs to be brought to an end," wrote chairman Evan Power in an email.

• Back story: Florida education agency investigates Leon superintendent, pointing to 'personal views'

• Backing the superintendent: As Leon County Schools superintendent faces DOE investigation, teachers, unions offer support

• Reaction: School board reacts with mixed feelings about DOE investigation into Superintendent Hanna

The Tallahassee Democrat broke the news Thursday that Hanna was notified in early April that Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. and DOE found probable cause to “justify sanctions against your Florida educator certificate." Punishment could range from a reprimand or fine to suspension or the revocation of his teaching license.

Hanna has been a vocal critic of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration on social media, in the press and at school board meetings since the governor banned mask mandates in schools during COVID-19. Hanna says that's made him a target for political retribution.

The investigation came after a board member of the local chapter of the conservative group, Moms for Liberty, sent a letter to the governor calling on the superintendent "to be removed from his position." The letter was stamped with “LET’S GO BRANDON,” a saying popular among conservatives who use the G-rated term in place of “(Expletive) Joe Biden.”

Read the letter: A "LET'S GO BRANDON" stamped letter was in the case file of Rocky Hanna Investigation

Leon County Commissioner Nick Maddox declined to comment on the investigation, and Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey and Leon County School Board member Alva Smith have not yet responded to requests for comment.

When news of the investigation was first reported by the Democrat in late January, Smith shared harsh words.

"Our Superintendent's political diatribes and combativeness with the governor have done nothing but reflect poorly on our district," Smith wrote in a text message. "Regardless of our differences, our focus must remain on the education and safety of all students. We should be building bridges, not burning them."

Here's a collection of what some are saying.

Evan Power, Leon County Republican Party Chairman

“I appreciate the Department of Education taking action against Superintendent Rocky Hanna for the politicization he has caused in the Leon County School system. His pattern of acting out and then apologizing to try and avoid responsibility needs to be brought to an end."

Rick Minor, Leon County Commissioner

"We can’t duck and cover when someone faces an ideologically-motivated attack. Based on my reading of the situation, Superintendent Rocky Hanna acted with integrity and in accordance with the values of the majority of Leon County’s voters. These types of 'investigations' evoke the worst excesses of 1950s McCarthyism. We can disagree about policy, but none of us should accept this type of retaliatory bullying from our state government. It’s undemocratic. The State of Florida can — and must — do better."

David O'Keefe, Leon County Commissioner

"I hope you will join me in supporting Superintendent Rocky Hanna. Our community elected him to serve our students in a manner consistent with our values — as he has done with integrity. That is our constitutional right, and we must defend it against state overreach.

It is clear this targeted attack has taken a toll on him. But he is not the only target. Do not forget that the voters' right to elect their local leaders is under attack."

Jack Porter, Tallahassee City Commissioner

“The governor’s habitual overreach into local governments’ affairs has become autocratic — and it plainly does not serve the needs of the public. It’s troubling to see the pattern that has occurred in Hillsborough and now Orange County prosecutors’ offices with an overzealous executive pursuing the removal of key elected leaders based on political differences. With the recent failure of radical State overreach in Jefferson County, we in Leon hope cooler heads will prevail for the benefit of our students and educators.

Local democracy, Home Rule authority and separation of powers are values Floridians hold deeply. All of us who swear an oath to serve the public must heed our duty to protect and defend it.”

Leon County Democrats

"DeSantis’ political incursions into local elected offices are a threat to local democracy in communities all across Florida — including here in Leon. As our values are under attack this Session, DeSantis is undermining local officers’ ability to serve their constituents."

Alex Lanfranconi, Florida Department of Education Director of Communications

"Any teacher with an extensive history of repeated violations of Florida law would be subject to consequences up to and including losing their educator certificate. Nothing about this case is special."

Darryl Jones, Leon County School Board member

"Why can a professional educator be demonized and his career put in jeopardy for simply for keeping students safe, teachers inspired and demanding our school districts be adequately funded? I voted for the Superintendent to be an ardent and vocal defender of public education — we do still live in a democracy don't we?

With so many political assaults against public education, men like Superintendent Hanna shouldn't be censured — instead he should be cloned."

Marcus Nicolas, Leon County School Board member

"I will continue to work with the superintendent to develop proposed revisions to board policies and administrative procedures that: reduce student suspensions and expulsions; equip school administrators with intervention tools and behavioral supports as alternatives to traditional forms of discipline; encourage more low-income, Black students to participate in dual enrollment, AP and CTE courses; and codify the District's hiring practices as Board policies and administrative procedures.

These are the concerns of the constituents that I serve. I will continue to stay focused on these issues and not one letter with the words, 'Let's Go, Brandon,' stamped next to the signature line."

Rosanne Wood, Leon County School Board member

"Working with Rocky Hanna, both as a fellow principal and now as a school board member, I have always admired his passion, integrity and advocacy for our students, staff, and public schools. Leon County is lucky to have a superintendent of schools who wakes up every morning working with grit and determination to offer a high-quality public education, while keeping our kids safe to pursue their dreams."

Laurie Cox, Leon County School Board member

"I personally don't question the Superintendent's care for students, families and teachers of Leon County Schools. I also was hoping moving forward we would be able to build bridges with our state elected officials. I still would like to see that happen. At the end of the day, all we want is to provide the best education opportunities for our students, teachers and families."

Equality Florida

“Governor DeSantis is a petulant bully who has repeatedly wielded the power of the state against those who dare speak out about his assaults on freedom, equality, and democracy,” said Brandon Wolf, Equality Florida press secretary. “This time, he is attempting to abuse his power to attack Superintendent Rocky Hanna, a celebrated schools leader and stalwart champion for the students and families of Leon County Schools, to muzzle him and intimidate others who may consider speaking up. Free states do not retaliate against locally elected leaders to silence dissent. And free state governors are not thin-skinned tyrants who terrorize those who dare speak out against them. This is more targeted retaliation and an outrageous abuse of power from Governor DeSantis, who, from Disney to our school boards, has made wielding state power to target political enemies a hallmark of his administration.”

Scott Mazur, president of Leon Classroom Teachers Association

"Regardless of your party politics, when state agencies are weaponized to undermine home rule and the vote of the public, irrespective of the individual, we need to support them. This is more than the elected positions or persons. This moment is about the erosion of democracy and freedom for all created by the political tide by current Florida leadership.

When individuals of the same party as current leadership are being silent for fear of retaliation or retribution, you have to ask, 'Are we living in the United States and Florida we all love so much' Florida is becoming more of 'the fear state' than 'the sunshine state.'

The students, parents, and citizens of Florida have watched staffing shortages balloon over the past three years because some state leaders are fabricating crises rather hank addressing issues like teacher pay, ranking once again 48th in the country."

Andrew Spar, president of Florida Education Association

"I think it's pretty clear this is another example of the governor going after someone who speaks up and speaks out for our students and for our public schools."

Sharyn Kerwin, Moms for Liberty-Leon County

"While the concerns of the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) were expressed by a parent who also happens to be a member of Moms for Liberty, there is one point that cannot be overlooked, and that is what the FDOE has said publicly about this investigation — this investigation dates back to incidents as early as 2021. As the FDOE said publicly about this investigation: 'Any teacher with an extensive history of repeated violations of Florida law would be subject to consequences up to and including losing their educator certificate. Nothing about this case is special,' Lanfranconi told the News Service of Florida.

Letter to Leon County Schools principals and staff from Superintendent Rocky Hanna:

"Dear Colleagues, I wanted to tell you personally that the Florida Department of Education has made the decision to pursue action against my professional educator certificate. Never in a million years would I have imagined something like this happening to me. When I started as a classroom teacher thirty-five years ago, all I ever wanted to do was help young people succeed in life. To this day, I am still focused and committed to that mission and I am angered and disheartened that this situation has gotten this far.

I am certain this news will spread quickly and, out of respect, I wanted you to have heard it from me first. I will not allow this to become a distraction. I will continue to work hard every day to provide support to you and your schools, keeping my focus on the students as we head towards the end of a great school year and high school graduation ceremonies."

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis DOE finds cause to discipline outspoken Florida superintendent | reaction