April 22, 2025 |Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Education, News, State of MA

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Recommends Pedro Martinez for K-12 Education Commissioner  

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted today to recommend that Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez be the next Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. The final decision rests with Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, who voted in support of the recommendation.

“Mr. Martinez is a proven, nationally recognized education leader who has a successful track record of closing student achievement gaps, creating innovative educational pathways and paying particular attention to children with special needs and English language learners,” said Board Chair Katherine Craven. “Mr. Martinez will add valuable insight and perspective to the immediate tasks of formulating shared expectations around high school graduation requirements.” 

Forty-two candidates from across the country applied for the position through executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, which the Board retained to help conduct the search. The four voting members of the Preliminary Screening Committee interviewed nine candidates in March and selected three finalists, including Mr. Martinez, using feedback from non-voting Preliminary Screening Committee members, including more than two dozen educators, school administrators, community leaders and key stakeholders. 

Under state law, the Board’s recommendation for commissioner requires a two-thirds majority vote of all members (Secretary Tutwiler has a vote as a member of the Board), and the secretary decides whether to appoint the recommended candidate or ask the Board to submit another candidate for consideration. 

“The vote today was the culmination of months of work by more than 20 committee members, everyone who submitted feedback, and dozens of people who supported this process behind the scenes. I’d like to thank everyone for their contributions to this process.” 

Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler

Mr. Martinez is a nationally recognized superintendent with a track record of creating comprehensive, multi-year solutions that advance equity and economic mobility. He has spent more than two decades in K-12 education leadership, including 13 years as a superintendent. Under his leadership, Chicago Public Schools has expanded full-day early childhood classrooms, posted some of the nation’s top elementary-level post-pandemic reading and math gains, and achieved record-high graduation rates, scholarships earned, and college credits obtained in high school. Prior to joining Chicago Public Schools, Mr. Martinez was superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District, where he received statewide recognition from the governor and commissioner of education as the fastest improving large district in Texas in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Before joining San Antonio, Mr. Martinez served as superintendent in residence for the Nevada Department of Education and superintendent of the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nev. 

   
Once appointed, Mr. Martinez, who was born in Mexico, will be DESE’s 25th commissioner and the first Latino to hold that position. The Department’s last commissioner, Jeffrey C. Riley, stepped down in March 2024. The agency was led by Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston until March 28, 2025, when he left to lead a school district in Pennsylvania. Since then, Secretary Tutwiler has served as both commissioner and secretary.  

The above information was submitted to us by the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.