BY OLYMPIA MEOLA

Gerard Robinson, the former Virginia education secretary who left to become Florida’s commissioner of education, has resigned that post.

In a letter dated July 31 to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Robinson highlights what he sees as the school system’s accomplishments but says “living far away from my family has proven to be the one challenge all this progress could not overcome.”

His resignation is effective Aug. 31, about a year after he began to lead Florida’s school system of 2.6 million public school students in 67 districts.

Gov. Bob McDonnell hired Robinson to serve as secretary of education in January 2010 and Robinson was an enthusiastic advocate for the governor’s education initiatives, including expanded access to public charter schools, virtual schools and college laboratory schools.