Having received the two-thirds of the Board votes as necessary, current Chicago Chief Executive Officer Pedro Martinez was recommended by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to Secretary Patrick Tutwiler as the next Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education this afternoon. Martinez was one of three finalists considered by the Board, alongside former Texas Education Agency Deputy Commissioner Lily Laux and Executive Director of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative Jack Elsey. The three finalists were interviewed last Thursday, April 17 at Mass Bay Community College.
Martinez emigrated to the United States from Mexico at the age of five. The eldest of twelve children, he is a graduate of the Chicago Public Schools. He said in his interview that he was the first in his family to graduate from high school, and the first to go to college. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Illinois, and an M.B.A. from DePaul University in Chicago. He started his career in public education as budget director in the Chicago Public Schools, where, as he said in his interview, he took time “to really understand the work of teachers.” After five years with CPS, he was made the Chief Financial Officer of the system.
He worked for two Nevada school districts–Washoe County and Clark County–in deputy superintendent positions, becoming the superintendent of Washoe County in 2012. He spoke at some length in his interview of the experience of rural school districts from his time in Nevada, of “how fragile rural communities are,” and of the work to ensure rural students have access to the same opportunities as their suburban and urban peers. He spoke of leveraging the resources of the state in support, and in working with superintendents and districts to first ask what they need.
Prior to his time as C.E.O. in Chicago, Martinez was the Superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District. He was leading San Antonio during the height of the pandemic, and he spoke of the weekly, then every other week meetings with principals, where one of his instructions to his team was that they would listen to the critiques of those on the ground: “they’re going to complain; they’re going to vent; you’re going to take it, and you’re not going to respond.” The weekly calls ensured the district was responsive to the needs of the schools. San Antonio also passed two major building bonds during his time, enabling the district to modernize every high school and the majority of the elementary schools. He said communities are willing to tax themselves if they trust you and your vision.
Receiving a call to go back to Chicago as C.E.O. in 2021, Martinez spoke of understanding the communities you’re serving, of going in on the ground level and listening to those there. He spoke with pride of the progress made by English learner students during his time there. He also noted, both of Chicago and elsewhere, of receiving pushback, and of that being part of leadership; he said, it’s “not just about vision, not just about values; it’s how you walk those values…[how you] stand up for those values.”
During his interview, Martinez repeatedly noted his fascination with the close correlation in Massachusetts between proficiency rates and poverty rates, observing that it was growth that told more of the story. He said he would be interested in the history of how we got here. This focus on and history of closing of gaps, along with his strength as one (as Member Fisher said) who “can fight the good fight,” particularly in light of the federal scene, were among the reasons cited by Board members for their votes in support.
This recommendation goes to Secretary Tutwiler, who supported his candidacy, for appointment as the next Commissioner.
The Board next meets Tuesday, April 29 for their regular monthly meeting.