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BOSTON – Monday, March 2, 2015 – The Greater Boston Latino Network (GBLN), comprised of 11 area Latino advocacy organizations, today announced its united support for Nevada education leader Pedro Martinez as the next superintendent of the Boston Public Schools.
“Pedro Martinez is an extraordinary leader with passion, a sense of urgency and a track record of transforming schools for all children,” said Samuel Hurtado of South Boston en Acción. “Martinez was the only one of four finalists to articulate a clear vision for Boston schools while also raising specific concerns about our low graduation rates. This is the type of courage and passion Boston needs and Martinez is the type of strong Latino leader the community has been lacking.”
In December, GBLN released its report: The Silent Crisis: Including Latinos and Why it Matters, revealing only 5 Latinos among the city’s 66 executives and just 28 among the 395 members of boards and commissions. GBLN has been working closely with Mayor Walsh on his commitments to increase diversity and close achievement gaps, and has urged the mayor and School Committee to make Pedro Martinez Boston’s next superintendent of schools.
“Latinos now represent 40 percent of the student body in the Boston Public Schools and their likelihood to succeed, or fail, in coming years will help define the story of Boston for decades,” said Alexandra Davila-Oliver, of Sociedad Latina. “With social and language barriers contributing to the lowest graduation and highest dropout rates of all groups, Latino students need a leader like Pedro Martinez who can meet this challenge.”
Martinez, an experienced former superintendent, who serves as a top education leader to the State of Nevada, has worked in racially-diverse districts that include the cities of Las Vegas, Reno, and Chicago.
One of twelve children from a family that immigrated from Mexico, Martinez has worked to ensure all students have opportunities to take AP classes and graduate with an individualized post-secondary plan. His record includes increasing graduation rates in Washoe County, Nevada to 73 percent, well above Boston’s rate of 67 percent.
GBLN commends the search committee in their selection of the four finalists, people of color who understand the impact of poverty and racial bias on student performance.
They each bring a set of skills unique to their experiences both personal and professional. Nevertheless, among the four finalists, GBLN believes Pedro Martinez stands out as the candidate best equipped for this important role.
Martinez was outspoken during Thursday’s interview about Boston’s ample resources producing unacceptable results, doing worse than Nevada’s poorly funded schools – especially when it comes to graduation rates. GBLN has heard from parents, students and teachers who have worked with Martinez about his work style – he is known as a doer, someone who works for every child and reaches out to all stakeholders for input. Latinos and other communities of color see him as a role model, and he has earned GBLN’s support.
Members of the Greater Boston Latino Network include:
Marisol Amaya, La Alianza Hispana
Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, IBA—Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción
Yi Chin Chen, Hyde Square Task Force
Alexandra Davila-Oliver, Sociedad Latina
Samuel Hurtado, South Boston en Acción
MariaElena Letona, Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts
Juan Leyton, GBLN
Patricia Montes, Centro Presente
Frank Ramirez, East Boston Ecumenical Community Council
Gladys Vega, Chelsea Collaborative
Juan Vega, Centro Latino
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