Pedro Martinez has been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a decision met with mixed reactions amid ongoing challenges in the state’s K-12 schools.
Katherine Craven, the chair of the board, emphasized the need for a strong advocate for public schools during uncertain times at the federal level.
“We need someone who has had a proven track record of standing up for the kids in their district,” said Craven before supporting Martinez’s nomination.
Martinez brings decades of administrative experience, having previously led school districts in Chicago, Nevada, and Texas.
In his public interview last week, he articulated a vision focused on fostering futures for students, reflecting on his own journey as an immigrant from Mexico whose parents did not graduate high school.
Martinez himself is the first in his family to attend college, earning a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a master’s in financial services from DePaul University.
In 2015, he was also a candidate for the superintendency in Boston.
Expressing his gratitude after the board’s vote, Martinez stated, “I am deeply honored to be selected as the next Commissioner. I am profoundly grateful to the Massachusetts Board for their trust in my leadership and for recognizing the work we’ve done in Chicago, as well as in San Antonio and Nevada.”
However, the choice of Martinez has faced criticism, particularly from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts.
Both unions expressed concerns about his past, including a tumultuous relationship with the teachers’ union in Chicago and his firing from Washoe County’s school district in 2014 after just two years.
Union leaders characterized Martinez as a “divisive candidate” and emphasized the importance of building consensus and trust with educators in Massachusetts.
Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts, stated, “Our next Commissioner — especially one unfamiliar with the Massachusetts education landscape — must put in the work to do this and earn the trust of the union educators.”
Supporters of Martinez, including Arne Duncan, a former U.S. Secretary of Education, defended his candidacy.
Duncan described Martinez as a consensus builder with integrity and courage, stating, “I can’t think of someone better than Pedro to lead Massachusetts and provide leadership nationally. It’s desperately needed now.”
Martinez steps into the role during a time of immense challenges for Massachusetts K-12 schools, including budget shortfalls and the need to support increasing populations of English learners and special education students.
The new commissioner also faces the daunting task of addressing pandemic-related learning losses statewide.
In addition to local challenges, the appointment is set against a backdrop of threatened federal funding cuts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The Massachusetts state education board voted in favor of Martinez with a majority of its 11 members backing him as the next K-12 education commissioner.
Martinez emerged from a pool of three finalists, which included Jack Elsey and Lily Laux, who were also interviewed as part of a national search that attracted 42 applicants.
The board’s vote saw dissent as two members, Dálida Rocha and Mary Ann Stewart, expressed their preference for Laux, citing her strong experience in navigating complex stakeholder relationships in multiracial and multilingual communities.
The appointment of Martinez as Commissioner sets the stage for a new chapter in Massachusetts’ education system, as he seeks to unify stakeholders and address pressing challenges in the coming years.
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