The Miami-Dade County School Board has formally approved a plan to find its next leader, initiating the search for a new superintendent to head the nation’s third-largest school district. The decision came after a marathon four-hour debate on Wednesday, which itself followed a six-hour discussion the previous week.
The approved five-part plan focuses on an internal search for a successor to current Superintendent Jose Dotres, whose contract is set to end on February 14, 2027. The board aims to name the new superintendent by the start of the next school year on August 13, 2026. The search process has a preliminary budget not to exceed $30,000, a significant increase from the $10,000 spent on the last internal search in 2022, but a modest sum for an executive search of this scale.
Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas described the selection as "the most consequential decision we are going to make." The board’s lengthy deliberations underscore the weight of choosing a leader for a district facing complex challenges, including financial pressures and declining enrollment, while also celebrating recent successes.
A detailed plan for a swift transition
The framework for the search was established through a successful, amended proposal by board member Danny Espino. A key first step involves the district’s general counsel identifying an "independent facilitator" with deep knowledge of the district and the Miami community. This facilitator will work with the chief human capital officer to develop the internal search process and present a proposed timeline and goals at a board committee meeting on May 6.
To ensure public transparency, the plan mandates the creation of a dedicated website by May 13. This online portal will allow community members to review all documents, policies, and board actions related to the search. It will also feature a section for the public to submit written comments, ensuring community feedback is integrated into the process.
Crucially, the board has scheduled a special public meeting for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, to discuss and approve the job description and desired "leadership attributes" for the next superintendent. Representatives from a wide range of stakeholder groups have been invited to provide input, including teachers unions, parent-teacher associations, student government, business and industry associations, and community organizations.
Politics, denials and district challenges
The search for a new superintendent is unfolding against a politically charged backdrop. The board currently has a conservative-leaning majority, with four members appointed or supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis: Monica Colucci, Danny Espino, Mary Blanco, and Roberto Alonso. Board Chair Mari Tere Rojas is also considered an ally of this majority.
During the debate, board leaders appeared to address speculation about political influence on the selection process. Earlier this year, State Rep. Alex Rizzo, R-Hialeah, told the Miami Herald he might be a candidate for the position. While not naming Rizzo directly, Rojas firmly stated, "There are no hidden agendas on this board. We understand that public trust is earned, it is not given."
Vice Chair Monica Colucci, one of the governor-supported members, reinforced this, stating the search "is not political and it is not based on outside narratives. It relies solely on governance." Colucci also highlighted significant challenges facing the district, including under-enrollment and financial stress, and noted her faith in current leadership’s communication has been shaken. These issues will be at the forefront of the agenda for the district's next leader, who must navigate the complex landscape of South Florida’s changing demographics and the rise of alternative schooling options like charter schools.
Dotres’s tenure and the need for stability
The next superintendent will take the reins from Jose Dotres, a veteran educator with extensive experience in South Florida. Before becoming Miami-Dade's superintendent in 2022, Dotres served as deputy superintendent in Collier County and held various roles in Broward County and within Miami-Dade’s own system, including as a teacher and assistant superintendent. He took over after his predecessor, Alberto Carvalho, left to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Under Dotres’s leadership, Miami-Dade County Public Schools achieved a record-high graduation rate of 93.1% for the 2024-25 school year, which the district hailed as its highest ever. This success provides a strong foundation, but a new leader will need to address the persistent challenges raised by board members and the community.
From our perspective, what matters most is that this process stays grounded in what's happening in our schools every day. Our educators and staff are looking for stability, consistency and leadership that understands what it takes to run a system as large as, as complex as this.
The importance of finding a leader who understands the district from the inside out was echoed by Antonio White, president of the United Teachers of Dade. Speaking to the board, he emphasized the need for a seamless transition and consistent leadership to support educators and staff on the ground. The decision to pursue an internal search reflects a desire for a candidate who is already familiar with the district’s vast and diverse ecosystem, which includes hundreds of schools, thousands of employees, and a student body representing cultures from around the world.
The next step in the process is the April 29 special meeting, where the public will have its first formal opportunity to help shape the profile of the next person to lead Miami-Dade’s schools.
