Pedro Martinez, fired as CEO of Chicago Public Schools but continuing in the job for the rest of the school year, is on track to be appointed as Massachusetts education commissioner.
Chalkbeat Chicago reports that the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has voted 9-0 (with two abstentions) to recommend that Martinez be appointed commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Martinez, who was fired without cause by the Chicago school board in December, was one of three finalists for the Massachusetts job and one of 42 people who had applied.
The Massachusetts board's recommendation goes to the Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler for final approval. Tutwiler is expected to sign off on the appointment; he sits on the board and voted to recommend Martinez for the job.
In a news release announcing its recommendation, the Massachusetts board cited Martinez's "track record of creating comprehensive, multi-year solutions that advance equity and economic mobility."
The Chicago school board, its members appointed by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, fired Martinez in December without cause. Under the terms of his contract, Martinez was set to remain as CEO through the end of the 2024-25 school year.
Earlier in 2024, the entire Chicago school board resigned rather than carry out Johnson's wishes and fire Martinez.
Martinez, appointed as CEO in 2021 by Johnson's predecessor, was at odds with Johnson over how to pay for labor contracts and pensions.
