Pedro Martinez admitted he didn't get much sleep last night. He told us, "Well I was just so excited. I couldn't wait." First days on the job are like that, and this is a big one…overseeing 90 schools, including the one we were invited to meet him at: Lois Allen Elementary in Sun Valley. If he had any first day jitters, they certainly didn't show, even with several cameras covering his start as the new super.
It's also the start of a 4-year contract that will earn him $238,000 a year, with $24,000 in yearly incentive bonuses...pretty much the same deal Dr. Heath Morrison had. But he told us it's the love of education that made him pursue this job. It all started with his father, who had a second grade education. "My dad knew that the only way our family could have a better life, is we needed to find a community where we could have access to quality education. "
That was in the U.S. He left Mexico when he was only 5-years old. He's never been a teacher, or principal, but says that won't hinder him here. "The knowledge that I bring, is that I understand how to transform large organizations."
He's really a numbers guy: a certified public accountant with a degree in accounting, and a former audit manager for financial firms…all things the school board thinks will come in handy as budget problems dominate again this year. Washoe County School Board of Trustees President Ken Grein told us, "That is a real plus for us. He understands those numbers, and you know it's going to be tough, as in any cutting situation."
More than $120 million was cut from the district budget in the past 5 years. Another $55 million looks like it will be cut for the coming one. Martinez doesn't know yet where those next cuts will come from. "As part of my first 90 days I just want to listen and learn and work with my community to take our schools to the next level."
The new superintendent's high hopes are in the face of some big obstacles, but Grein says he'll get a lot of support. He himself will be lobbying at the next legislative session come February. As he put it, "Absolutely. We're all going to be down there, and we'll be down there in force. Pedro's going to lead the way on that."
And why did Martinez want his first day to be covered at Lois Allen elementary? It's a success story: a Title 1 school where 93% of students qualify for a free or reduced lunch, it posted the district's biggest gains in reading and math last school year. Success, that Pedro Martinez needs to show in other schools.
-written by John Potter
Superintendent Martinez will sit down with us on Channel 2News This Morning on Friday for a live interview. And starting tonight everyone is invited to come out and meet him and ask questions before the new school year gets underway. The times, dates, and locations of the "Connecting With The Superintendent" meetings are as follows:
Wednesday, August 1
Billinghurst Middle School
Cafeteria
6685 Chesterfield Lane, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
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Thursday, August 2
Sun Valley Recreation Center
Community Room
115 W. Sixth Street, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
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Monday, August 6
Galena High School
Cafeteria
3600 Butch Cassidy Way, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
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Tuesday, August 7
Mendive Middle School
Cafeteria
1900 Whitewood Drive, Sparks
6 to 7 p.m.
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Thursday, August 9
Anderson Elementary School
Cafeteria
1055 Berrum Lane, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
Note: This meeting will be conducted in Spanish with English interpretation available.
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Monday, August 13
Caughlin Ranch Elementary School
Cafeteria
4885 Village Green Parkway, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
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Thursday, August 16
Sepulveda Elementary School
Cafeteria
5075 Ion Drive, Sparks
6 to 7 p.m.
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Monday, August 20
Incline Village Parasol Building
948 Incline Way, Incline Village
6 to 7 p.m.
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Tuesday, August 21
Wooster High School
Theater
1331 E. Plumb Lane, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
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Wednesday, August 22
Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows Cafeteria
2680 East 9th Street, Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
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Thursday, August 23
O'Brien Middle School
Cafeteria
10500 Stead Blvd., Reno
6 to 7 p.m.
-Information from the Washoe County School District
