Senate Rules Committee advances Mariana Padilla for Public Education secretary after hearing

The New Mexico Senate Rules Committee voted to move Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s nominee for Cabinet Secretary of the Public Education Department, Mariana Padilla, to the full Senate for confirmation following a hearing where Padilla outlined priorities including literacy, chronic absenteeism and graduation-rate improvement.

Padilla, the governor's nominee and a former classroom teacher who has led the Children’s Cabinet and literacy initiatives, told the committee she will “be relentless” in efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and to accelerate literacy and math achievement across the state.

The nomination drew organized support from education groups and local leaders. Joe Guillen, executive director of the New Mexico School Boards Association, told the committee the association strongly supports Padilla’s confirmation. Gwen Pereyo Worneman of the LANL Foundation and Secretary of Higher Education Stephanie Rodriguez also spoke in favor, citing Padilla’s longtime work on reading proficiency, early childhood initiatives and cross-agency collaboration. Padilla’s family members, including her son and mother, also addressed the committee.

During questioning, Padilla described priorities at the Public Education Department as improving student outcomes by “emphasizing the things that we know work and providing targeted programs and resources for students that need extra support.” She repeated the administration goal of closing the graduation gap to meet the national average, saying New Mexico needs to graduate about 2,400 more students to reach that benchmark.

Committee members pressed Padilla on staffing, rural outreach and how the department would respond to federal funding cuts to Title I. Padilla said PED has a low vacancy rate but would welcome more full‑time equivalents to be “in schools more” and described ongoing work to deploy early warning systems, tutoring and school‑based interventions. On federal uncertainty, she said the state is “ready to step up” and that the administration and legislature have signaled willingness to backfill necessary supports if federal dollars shift.

Padilla also addressed pending joint resolutions that would replace the cabinet secretary with a state school board structure, saying she respects their intent but does not believe evidence shows a change in governance would deliver better student outcomes. She urged a cautious, study‑first approach.

Senators commended Padilla’s classroom experience, her stated focus on literacy and her collaborative approach with the legislature. Senator Townsend moved that the committee support her nomination and send it to the full Senate. The committee recorded eight yes votes and advanced the nomination to the Senate chamber for final confirmation.

Padilla will appear before the full Senate later the same day for the final confirmation vote.

Padilla’s hearing included both public‑comment supporters and multiple questions from senators about implementation, rural outreach, Title I contingency planning and staff capacity.