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SANTA FE, N.M. – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced a new Secretary of Education, Dr. Arsenio Romero. As secretary, Dr. Romero will head the state’s public education department and oversee New Mexico’s education policy and program development, operational management, and the distribution of educational funding.
“Arsenio Romero is a proven education leader. He knows what it takes to focus on New Mexico students, make hard decisions and improve academic achievement,” said Amanda Aragon, Executive Director of NewMexicoKidsCAN. “We look forward to him bringing a student-centered vision and much needed stability to the PED for the remainder of the governor’s term.”
Dr. Romero is an experienced, well-respected leader. He currently serves as the superintendent of Los Lunas Schools and previously served as the superintendent of Deming Public Schools. During his tenure, Deming Public Schools transformed from the lowest-performing school district in the state to a model for instructional practices and career technical education pathways. Prior to Deming, Dr. Romero served as the assistant superintendent for instruction and school turnaround in Roswell Public Schools. In 2019, Dr. Romero was awarded the National Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.
This announcement comes two weeks after Secretary Kurt Steinhaus announced his retirement from the role. Dr. Romero’s appointment brings stability to the Public Education Department, which is experiencing leadership changes and high employee turnover. This announcement also comes at a critical and urgent time for public education in New Mexico. New Mexico students continue to rank last in every educational measure, and student achievement is at its lowest point in decades. It is crucial that New Mexico students and families have a strong and consistent team at the Public Education Department that will work to improve outcomes for all students.