Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez is on a shortlist of candidates vying to become the superintendent of Nevada’s Clark County Public Schools.
The embattled CEO is among six applicants being considered to replace former Clark County superintendent Jesus Jara, who resigned in February 2024. Martinez applied for the role after the Chicago Board of Education voted to terminate his contract in December without cause, amid rising tensions with Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The news of Martinez’s application for the Clark County School District role, which educates 300,000 students in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, was first reported Wednesday by Chalkbeat.
The fifth-largest school district in the nation, with more than 360 schools, the Clark County School District has been without a superintendent since February 2024. As reported by the Las Vegas Sun, the school board described Jara’s resignation and subsequent $250,000 lump sum severance package as an “amicable separation. ”
Martinez is not new to Nevada. He previously served as the “superintendent in residence” for the Nevada Department of Education and briefly as deputy superintendent of Clark County schools. In his online application, he wrote that he had a “deep interest” in returning to a state he said he used to “know and love.”
Citing the “change in board” as his reason for leaving CPS, Martinez mentioned later in his application that he was fired without cause, allowing him to stay on in his position until June. The Chicago Board of Education unanimously fired Martinez in December following months of back-and-forth between the district and Mayor Brandon Johnson over a $300 million high-interest loan to cover the costs of a new teachers contract and a pension payment to the city. All seven previous board members resigned over the conflict.
As CPS is in the ninth month of negotiating a new four-year contract with the Chicago Teachers Union, Martinez is currently fighting to retain his chief executive and contract negotiating duties in court.
CPS declined to comment. The Chicago Teachers Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In an application letter dated Jan. 30 to the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, Martinez expressed confidence in CCSD’s potential for success, citing strong talent, community engagement and state investments. He emphasized his ability to build collaboration, strengthen fiscal and human capital and improve student outcomes. He pointed to his experience in Chicago and San Antonio as evidence of his ability to drive change.
Signing off his letter, Martinez said the ability to “return to such a personally and professionally formative place is a unique opportunity” he’s excited to explore.
“I believe that my experience leading change in large urban school systems combined with my passion for improving student outcomes and my personal connection to Nevada positions me to make a significant, positive impact in the district,” Martinez wrote.
Five other candidate’s applications will be presented at the Clark County special meeting on Feb.18, according to a “Superintendent Search” presentation posted by the school district.
The candidates also vying to help CCSD include Ben Shuldiner, superintendent of Lansing schools in Michigan; Jason Glass, former commissioner for the Kentucky Department of Education; Jhone Ebert, Nevada state superintendent of public instruction; Jon Anzalone, superintendent of Camas School District in Washington; and Joshua Starr, former superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.
The first round of interviews will occur Feb. 24-25, according to the Clark County slides. Each candidate will prepare a presentation for the board, highlighting how they’re the best match for the position.
The second round of interviews will take place March 10-11, which is set to include community forums. According to a timeline approved by the Clark County school board, a new superintendent will be hired by the district’s March 27 board meeting.
