Senate rules committee advances Mariana Padilla for New Mexico public education secretary

Senator Stewart, sponsor of the nomination, presented Mariana Padilla as the governor’s choice for cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department and asked the committee to advance her confirmation to the full Senate.

Padilla, who identified herself as the governor’s nominee and a native New Mexican raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley, told the committee she has worked as a teacher and as a state and federal policymaker. She listed priorities including accelerating literacy and math achievement, improving graduation rates and reducing chronic absenteeism.

The nominee and supporters emphasized Padilla’s background as an educator and her experience in state education policy. Senator Stewart said, “I am so pleased today to present to you the governor's appointment for Secretary of Public Education, Miss Mariana Padilla.” Padilla told the committee, “I believe that there is no higher calling than supporting the children of our state,” and she said the department is focused on “accelerating literacy and math achievement, strengthening student attendance and engagement, increasing graduation rates, and fostering shared accountability at the state and local level.”

Organized supporters who spoke included Joe Guillen, executive director of the New Mexico School Boards Association, who said the association “urges your favorable consideration of her confirmation,” and Gwen Perea Worneman, president and CEO of the Lannan Foundation, who called Padilla’s belief in students “inherent.” Padilla’s daughter, Joseline Perlier, spoke in support as well.

Committee members asked Padilla about staffing at the Public Education Department and the department’s role with different types of schools. Padilla replied that PED has a low vacancy rate but would welcome more staff and that the department’s work must reach rural, tribal, charter and urban schools alike. On chronic absenteeism she said the state has seen a recent 10% improvement and described a student wellness survey the agency implemented; she called absenteeism “a very complex issue” involving transportation, mental health and student engagement.

Multiple senators raised the question of governance structure after a committee member asked about proposed joint resolutions to eliminate the cabinet secretary position in favor of a state school board. Padilla said she understood the intent behind those bills but did not endorse changing the governance structure, saying there is not clear research that a state school board would deliver better outcomes and arguing that alignment across executive agencies supports current initiatives.

Senator Townsend moved that the Rules Committee support Padilla’s nomination and send it to the full Senate. A roll call vote in the subcommittee recorded recorded yes votes from Senators Bergman, Brantley, Gallegos, Stefanik, Stewart, Townsend, Jaramillo and Duhigg; Senator Block and Senator Lopez were recorded as excused. The committee’s motion carried and Padilla’s nomination will proceed to a full-Senate confirmation vote.

Padilla leaves the committee having emphasized literacy, attendance and graduation targets; she said reaching the national average graduation rate would require graduating about 2,400 more students and stated the department’s intent to pursue targeted programs and supports to meet that goal.