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DCPS approves superintendent contract for Dr. Diana Greene, but who is she?

Greene is more than a leader in education. She's a woman who understands the importance of family.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Duval County School Board made a unanimous decision Thursday by approving the contract of Dr. Diana Greene. If she accepts the contract, she will become the superintendent of Duval County Public Schools and start on July 1.

The school system is in need of permanent leadership. It's been more than a year since former superintendent Nikolai Vitti left for the same job in Detroit.

"I'm a strong woman of faith, I'm a wife, I have a loving and supporting husband and we have two amazing young men," Greene said.

Greene said she is more than a leader in education. She's a woman who understands the importance of family.

"I'm a person who can understand or empathize with people because I've been through a lot,” she said.

Greene's oldest son is a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with Leukemia at a young age.

"We went through a very long process. He's 28 years old today, but he was diagnosed when he was two,” Greene said.

The future leader of Duval County Public Schools has spent three years in Manatee County as superintendent. She started her career as a teacher here on the first coast after graduating from the University of North Florida in 1985.

"My dad, when he retired from the air force, became a vocational education teacher, so for me, teaching has been a part of my family,” she said. “In addition, my grandmother was a teacher and principal."

Growing up in a military family, Greene moved around a lot. She said she experienced her own hardships as a student.

"I was bullied a lot in middle school, so one of the things I talk about here in Manatee County is that I will not tolerate it, because I know what it feels like to be bullied,” she said.

Greene said she does not plan to make radical changes in Duval County, at least for now. Her goal is to mend broken relationships and build partnerships.

"I'm not coming in as if I already have the answers about what is going to be best for Duval County,” Green said. “I want to listen to the people who are there and who have worked in the system for a number of years and find out from them what they think is best for Duval County."

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