Chicago Schools CEO tapped to oversee schools in Massachusetts

Embattled Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez is set to take charge of K-12 schools in Massachusetts, pending final approval by the state’s education secretary.

The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted Tuesday to recommend Martinez to be hired as its next commissioner. Nine members supported Martinez’s hiring while two abstained because they backed another candidate.

Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler will make the final call to bring Martinez to the East Coast. But that seems to be a foregone conclusion: Tutwiler sits on the board and was one of the nine ‘yes’ votes in favor of the departing Chicago schools chief.

“This moment, this state, this agency, needs bold proven leadership where there’s a balanced exemplification of a willingness to partner meaningfully, to confront tough challenges, to think outside of the box, to demonstrate humility at times, when the situation calls for it, and unapologetic nature at other times, when the situation calls for it,” Tutwiler said in the meeting Tuesday. “In my humble view, this is Pedro Martinez, and I will be supporting his candidacy.”

Martinez said in a statement that it was the “greatest privilege of my life to return home and serve” as CPS CEO. He said he would finish the school year in Chicago and depart in mid-June.

“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,” he said.

“At the same time, Chicago — and Chicago Public Schools — will always hold a special place in my heart. This city welcomed my family and me when we emigrated from Mexico, and CPS became the foundation of my personal and professional journey.”

Chicago’s Board of Education is expected to ramp up its search for a new leader this spring.

Martinez was fired from the top CPS job in December after a protracted and sometimes ugly battle with the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson. His contract allowed him to stay on the job for six months because he was fired without cause. In that time, he eventually oversaw an agreement with the CTU in testy contract negotiations. But both the union and mayor continued painting him as an obstacle to their goals for the school system.

But Martinez has touted his time leading his hometown school system. He has pointed to a nation-leading pandemic recovery by Chicago students and his administration’s reform of the way CPS funds its schools.

The Massachusetts board began its search for a new commissioner with public input meetings in November. Martinez was one of 42 people who applied and one of three finalists for the job. He interviewed in person for the role this month. Martinez was the only finalist who had led a district.

Martinez will oversee the state’s more than 300 school districts serving nearly 900,000 students.

Many of the Massachusetts state board members said they liked that Martinez had dealt with controversial situations. Vice Chair Matt Hills said he was impressed with Martinez’s ability to manage multiple constituencies.

“This is someone who has had progressive experience in increasingly larger and more complex organizations, with significantly increased political situations that they have to balance,” Hills said during the meeting Tuesday. “But at the end of the day, this is someone who's been able to lead large organizations to get pretty significantly positive results in key education priorities.”

Board member Ericka Fisher said that, in the face of threats on public education from President Donald Trump’s administration, the state board needed someone like Martinez who “can stay standing and continue fighting.”

Martinez’s lawsuit against Chicago’s Board of Education remains pending.