EdCircuit StaffMartinez will serve as ALAS’ Director, Region 5: Midwest
WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 29, 2023) – The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) has appointed Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez to its board of directors. Martinez will serve as ALAS Director-Region 5: Midwest.
Martinez has more than 20 years of experience in the private, nonprofit, and public education sectors. He was named Chicago Public Schools CEO in 2021, the first Latino in the city’s history to hold the position outside of an interim capacity.
“I’m honored to serve in this role and support the many Latino educators who are rising as leaders in schools and districts across America,” said CEO Martinez. “Our students deserve to see themselves at all levels of any organization or community, perhaps most especially within our schools.”
Martinez, the oldest of 12 children, was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, and came to Chicago with his family at the age of five in search of a better life. He credits the education he received in Chicago Public Schools with changing the trajectory of his life.
The first in his family to graduate from high school and college, Martinez graduated from Chicago Public Schools’ Benito Juarez High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois and his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago. He is also a graduate of the Broad Superintendent Academy.
Prior to his role at Chicago Public Schools, Martinez was superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) where he was focused on academic excellence, talent recruitment, culture shift, stakeholder engagement, and strong fiscal management. Before that, he served as superintendent in residence for the Nevada Department of Education where he was responsible for advising the governor’s office and the state superintendent of instruction on education policy decisions. He has also served as superintendent for the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada, and was Chicago Public Schools chief financial officer from 2003 – 2009.
As a data-driven leader with in-depth knowledge of academic reform strategies, Martinez firmly believes that with the right supports, students can and will rise to any challenge, and that by setting the bar high, many more young people will demonstrate the aptitude and aspiration to perform at higher levels and be well-prepared for success in college, career, and civic life.
“Pedro Martinez is a trailblazer with true passion and commitment to education. He understands the challenges Latino students often face, and also the opportunities that a good education can provide for them,” said Dr. Maria Armstrong, ALAS executive director. “Pedro brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and leadership to his work and we are looking forward to having him on the ALAS board.”
For more information about ALAS, visit https://www.alasedu.org.
About the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS)
The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents [ALAS] is committed to providing a perspective to all aspiring school and district administrators including superintendents through programs, services, advocacy and networks rooted in Latino experiences and culture. Our Vision, Mission and Goals are to provide leadership at the national level that assures every school in America effectively serves the educational needs of all students with an emphasis on Latino and other historically marginalized youth through continuous professional learning, policy advocacy, and networking to share practices of promise for our students and the communities where we serve.
By the year 2026, Latino children will make up 30 percent of the school-age population. In the nation’s largest states – California, Texas, Florida, and New York- all of whom are ALAS State Affiliates– Latinos already have reached that level. It is of vital interest to invest in the education of every child, and the professional learning of all educators who serve Latino youth.
