Jacob Oliva

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Jacob Oliva, a lifelong educator, as Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) in January 2023.

Oliva’s leadership was instrumental in the passage of Arkansas’ LEARNS Act. He has guided the law’s implementation, which focuses on the importance of early learning programs, reading supports, Career and Technical Education (CTE), teacher recruitment and retention, and parent empowerment. Since implementing LEARNS, Arkansas is leading the nation in starting teacher salaries, providing school choice options, and assisting struggling learners.

In addition to serving as Arkansas Secretary of Education, the State Board of Education selected Oliva as commissioner of ADE’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education in 2023. As commissioner, Oliva oversees all state-led programs involving early learning and K-12 education in Arkansas.

Prior to being named secretary and commissioner, Oliva served in numerous senior leadership roles at the Florida Department of Education supporting more than 2.8 million students in approximately 3,600 Florida public schools.

Oliva is a graduate of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. He began his educational career more than two decades ago as an elementary teacher for students with special needs. He later served as a principal at both the elementary and high school levels and as a superintendent at Flagler County Schools.