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Pedro Martinez speaks on Wednesday September 15, 2021 in front of his alma mater, the Benito Juarez high school in Pilsen. (WTTW News)
Pedro Martinez is officially set to take over as the new head of Chicago’s public schools following a vote from the Board of Education on Wednesday.
A week after his appointment has been announced, board members voted unanimously to approve the former superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District as the next CEO of CPS at its monthly meeting.
“I am delighted with the experience and passion he brings to this position and also with the investment he has here in Chicago and in the Chicago public school system,” said the chairman of the board. administration Miguel del Valle, noting that Martinez has nearly 30 nieces and nephews currently enrolled in CPS schools.
A Mexican immigrant, Martinez will become the first Latino CEO within CPS.
Martinez, who himself is a CPS graduate and former district finance director under then-CEO Arne Duncan, will take control after leading the San Antonio Independent School District since 2015.
He will replace Janice Jackson, who left CPS earlier this year after more than three years as CEO, and interim CEO Jose Torres, in office since June.
Martinez’s first day with CPS will be September 29.
COVID-19 test, contact tracing issues
Martinez now finds himself at the head of a district that struggles to run contact tracing and COVID-19 testing as students resume in-person learning.
The Chicago Teachers Union has consistently criticized the way CPS managed the security protocols, the leaders going so far as to describe Wednesday its plan of “disaster”.
Earlier this week, Mayor Lori Lightfoot told WTTW News she was “disappointed” with how testing and contact tracing was implemented to start the year.
“I know parents like me take a leap of faith every day,” CTU Vice President Stacy Davis Gates said Wednesday morning. “So, hearing the mayor tell me Monday night that she’s disappointed… you can’t be disappointed when you’re in control.” You cannot be disappointed when you have the power. You can’t be disappointed when you’ve already promised me.
On Wednesday, the district announced that it had hired 28 additional full-time contact tracers and redeployed additional CPS staff to bring its full tracing team to more than 80 members.
Union officials also criticized the district for not doing enough to implement a comprehensive immunization plan. Citing data from the Chicago Department of Public Health, the district said Wednesday that while 61% of Chicagoans ages 12 to 17 have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, only 40% of eligible CPS students have. received at least one dose.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
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