Just weeks into the new school year, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is already searching for a new leader for the Public Education Department following the sudden resignation of Arsenio Romero, her fourth secretary since she came into office.
Romero, New Mexico’s top public education official, unexpectedly stepped down on Wednesday. This move comes shortly after he was announced as a finalist for the presidency at New Mexico State University (NMSU) less than two weeks ago.
The governor’s office confirmed that Lujan Grisham had asked Romero to make a choice between continuing in his current role or pursuing the NMSU position. “Gov. Lujan Grisham gave Secretary Romero a choice to either resign and continue pursuing the NMSU position or stay on the job and withdraw his candidacy at NMSU,” stated Michael Coleman, the governor’s spokesman.
Coleman emphasized the importance of the role, noting, “The secretary of public education is critically important in New Mexico, and the governor believes it’s imperative that the person serving in this role be fully committed to the job.”
Romero, who was appointed to lead the Public Education Department in February 2023, was the fourth person to hold this position in just over four years under Lujan Grisham’s administration. During his Senate confirmation hearing in March 2023, Romero expressed his commitment to the role, stating that New Mexico was “going to be stuck with me for a long time” and promising to bring about significant positive changes.
During his tenure, Romero spearheaded a new rule mandating that New Mexico public schools spend at least 180 days in session with students each school year. However, this rule faced opposition, with a coalition of school districts and superintendents filing a lawsuit that delayed its implementation.
Earlier this month, Romero was unexpectedly named one of five finalists for the NMSU presidency, a development that reportedly took the governor by surprise.
In a brief statement following Romero’s resignation, Lujan Grisham expressed her gratitude, saying, “I appreciate Secretary Romero’s service to the New Mexico Public Education Department and the children of our state. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The Governor’s Office has announced that the search for a new Public Education Department leader will begin immediately, with Lujan Grisham and her top aides conducting interviews for the position.
In a social media post after his resignation, Romero alluded to the challenges of his role, stating, “This is hard work and not everyone is willing to step up to the plate, take risks and sometimes make others mad.” He added, “I am proud of my years as a public school servant. My next adventure awaits.”
Earlier in the day, Romero was seen attending the state of the district speech by new Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey, where he was spotted conversing with local legislators. His resignation took effect immediately.
Kabuki theater.
QueMala had or still has large turnover of staff in her office as VP. MLG also has staff turnovers as well…more than known to the public. It must be their toxic perfume.
Definition of insanity…..😉
I ignore this nut only because I know I can’t do anything about her actions but vote against her.
do you remember when Arsenio was principal at Jornado?
My 24 years of teaching in a university quickly brought me to the conclusion that the administration positions are not about education, they are about places for surplus politicians. My view of public education is that most of the people in it are on welfare; just a more prestigious, higher paid, version.
Romero was briefly principal at Valley View Elementary after his predecessor was unceremoniously canned as part of a convoluted conspiracy to move the girlfriend of Superintendent Rounds into the same building as him.
Our school district/city. When two students are fighting or one student is being violent towards other students, school personnel are not allowed to stop(put hands on) the student(s). If school personnel are being punched or kicked they are not allowed to physically stop the student. School personnel are not allowed to discipline or punish any student.
This is what happens when Communist lawyers and politicians make the rules.
How about get rid of the state Department of Education and giving control back to the local districts. We had so much better schools when that office wasn’t at the state level.
Are any schools in NM doing well? Is Alamogordo as bad as all the rest?
Another CYFD scenario.