Three finalists selected in search for new Mass. education commissioner
BOSTON (WWLP) – Following the departure of the acting Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioner, Massachusetts officials have narrowed down the pool for his replacement to just three names.
Acting Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Russell Johnston took a superintendent job in the Philly suburbs at the end of March, leaving his position open once again. He took over as acting commissioner when former commissioner Jeffrey Riley left in March 2024, and the search for a permanent replacement has stretched on for over a year since.
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42 candidates applied to be the new commissioner, and nine candidates were interviewed by a panel of educators and school administrators. Now, just three names remain: Jack Elsey, Lily Laux and Pedro Martinez.
Elsey worked as Chief of Innovation and Incubation in Chicago and as an Assistant Superintendent in Detroit, and founded an initiative to address the teacher shortage in Michigan.
Laux spent seven years as the Deputy Commissioner of school programs in Texas, working to ensure that student positive outcomes are prioritized. She currently serves as the executive director of a civic organization focused on ensuring equitable access to college and livable wages.
Martinez, a former San Antonio superintendent, currently leads Chicago Public Schools. These finalist candidates will undergo a public interview process before the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education selects the candidate that will best fit with the Bay State's vision for the best public education in the country.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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