New Arkansas Gov Huckabee Sanders picks Florida chancellor to lead state's education department

Incoming Arkansas GOP Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has picked one of Florida's top education officials to lead her state's education department.

Governor-elect Sanders on Thursday nominated Florida Senior Chancellor Jacob Oliva who in recent years played a vital role in carrying out Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis' public schools eduction agenda, according to Politico.

DeSantis' agenda attracted national attention for its fights against local schools board over the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions and carrying out legislation that restricts lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity, Politico also reports.

Oliva has been Florida's senior chancellor since 2017, a tenure that also includes the 2018 Parkland school shooting, in which a former Stoneman Douglas High School student opened fire on ex-classmates and -staffers, killing 17.

Arkansas lawmakers have endorsed Sanders' nomination of Oliva, whose career in education includes classroom teaching.

Oliva appears headed to Arkansas, considering the Florida Education Department has already publicly thanked him for his service, also according to Politico.