Chicago Public Colleges CEO Pedro Martinez is a finalist to turn into the subsequent superintendent of the Clark County College District in Nevada, the fifth-largest public college system within the nation.
Martinez’s candidacy comes almost two months after Chicago’s Board of Training fired him as CPS CEO — although his contract retains him in Chicago by way of late June.
A local Chicagoan and CPS graduate, Martinez’s previous eight months of management have been stuffed with turmoil and in-fighting with Mayor Brandon Johnson and the mayor’s allies on the Chicago Academics Union. Martinez and the CTU are in more and more heated negotiations for a brand new collective bargaining settlement.
Waiting for his future, Martinez was one among 46 candidates to use for the job main Clark County’s college system in Las Vegas and surrounding areas, in accordance with a presentation posted on-line this month that lists Martinez amongst six finalists. Martinez’s utility was first reported by Chalkbeat Chicago.
A replica of his utility touts report commencement charges, scholarships and faculty credit for CPS college students in 2023 and 2024, in addition to literacy features in pandemic restoration. He listed his motive for leaving the CPS job as “Change in Board.”
Martinez’s references included former Board of Training President Miguel del Valle and former U.S. Training Secretary Arne Duncan, who was the CPS CEO when Martinez was chief monetary officer within the 2000s.
“My most up-to-date work in Chicago and San Antonio are a testomony to my capacity to construct coalitions, strategically leverage assets, and create transformational change for college kids throughout all sub-populations,” Martinez wrote in a canopy letter to the Clark County college board. “I might leverage this expertise, together with my information of the district and state to create an distinctive academic expertise for CCSD college students, households, and employees.
“Past being a state I do know and love, it’s the place my youngsters have been born and spent their earliest years,” he mentioned of Nevada.
Martinez has labored for Clark County earlier than as deputy superintendent. He then took the highest job at Washoe County College District in Nevada however was eliminated following a dispute along with his college board. He settled a lawsuit towards that board for $500,000.
Martinez’s utility didn’t point out his newest college board combat.
Clark County officers count on to host candidates for interviews Feb. 24 and 25, with second-round interviews March 10 and 11. Not all six finalists are assured to interview. A call is ready to be made at a board assembly March 13.
