The search for Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ next leader has narrowed down to six semifinalists, as school board members work to find a replacement for current Superintendent Jose Dotres before his contract expires in February 2027.
More than 20 candidates applied for the position to lead the nation’s third-largest school district, but only half a dozen have advanced to the semifinal round. The school board initiated the search process back in April and hopes to have a new superintendent in place by August of this year.
Among the top contenders is Jose Bueno, a 33-year veteran of Miami-Dade schools who currently serves as Chief of Staff to Dotres. Also in the running is Ernie Lozano, Broward County’s Chief Human Resources Officer, who has earned recognition for his work on school safety and security initiatives.
The candidate pool also includes Sylvia Mitchell, a Houston-based executive leadership coach who previously served as superintendent twice in Texas and worked as a principal in Fort Lauderdale. Carlos Perez, a charter school principal from West Palm Beach with over 25 years of experience in education, has also made the cut.
Rounding out the semifinalists are Christopher Ruszkowski, who previously served as New Mexico’s Secretary of Education and currently leads South Carolina’s Children’s Fund, and Rafael Villalobos, who has held the position of South Region Superintendent since 2022. The diverse group brings a mix of local experience and national expertise to the table as Miami-Dade prepares for this important leadership transition.
