LEESBURG — Lake-Sumter State College’s trustees met Aug. 28 and unanimously selected Florida Rep. John P. Temple, R-Wildwood, as the college’s next president.
Temple, 49, began his education career as a math teacher. He later landed jobs as a school administrator, assistant principal, principal, and director of professional learning and accountability for Sumter District Schools.
“We are looking forward to Rep. Temple’s leadership of Lake-Sumter State College,” said Bret Jones, chair of the LSSC District Board of Trustees, in a media release, acknowledging Temple’s experience with guiding students into the workforce as a vital skill for the fast-growing institution.
Temple served as vice president of Workforce Programs at Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) and represents District 52 in the state House. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University and a bachelor’s in secondary mathematics from Southeastern University.
“It has been an honor serving Sumter County as an educator for the last 18 years. Now I am looking forward to serving the students and community at Lake-Sumter State College,” he posted on Facebook.
Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2022, Temple serves Sumter and part of Hernando County. He was reelected last year.
“Temple understands the crucial role that the college plays in developing and enhancing the workforce of our area, and we know that he will bring his expertise and experience to this role,” LSSC board Chair Jones added.
A special election may be held to replace him in his role in the Florida House after he begins his tenure as LSSC president. “Presuming Temple vacates his seat, that would follow a string of premature departures from the Florida House this year,” said Florida Politics.
“Former Rep. Joel Rudman, a Navarre Republican, resigned his seat for an unsuccessful bid for Congress, while former Rep. Debbie Mayfield, an Indialantic Republican, ran successfully for a Senate seat. More recently, former Rep. Mike Caruso, a Republican from Delray Beach, left after being appointed as Palm Beach County Clerk.”
The former leader of the Sumter County Republican Party is another of several Gov. Ron DeSantis allies to clinch a higher-education leadership role. He and a small group of lawmakers supported DeSantis during discussions about immigration-enforcement legislation. When the governor signed immigration bills in February, after three special sessions, Temple was seen in social media posts attending an event in his office.
Born May 11, 1976, in Texas, Temple moved to Florida in 1981. He lives in Wildwood, declares his religious affiliation as Christian, and his interests include golfing, spending time with family and friends, and watching Tampa Bay Buccaneers games.
According to the college’s spokesperson, Temple was selected after a search process that included input from students, faculty, staff and the community on the desired leadership qualities for the next president, and the DBOT opened applications in July. Trustees reviewed the applications and selected finalists to meet with individually.
During the meeting, the trustees recognized another candidate on the list, Elmore D. Lowery, academic dean for the Center for Public Safety at Seminole State College of Florida, for his student-centered approach to leadership, and his professional background in both law enforcement and higher education as his strengths.
James Ross, former president of Pamlico Community College in North Carolina, the third finalist, withdrew his candidacy before meeting with the trustees to pursue another role.
Temple’s official start date will be negotiated as part of an employment agreement that will be approved by the DBOT at a future meeting, LSSC’s spokesperson said.
In the meantime, interim President Laura Byrd will continue leading the college. Last year, LSSC President Heather Bigard resigned, as reported by the Daily Commercial, after trustees put Bigard on leave shortly after her daughter was hired as the college’s grants manager.
This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: State representative and career educator selected as Lake-Sumter State College president
Reporting by Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial / Daily Commercial
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
