School Climate & Safety News in Brief

Albuquerque Chief Resigns for Hiring Accused Molester

By Denisa R. Superville — September 08, 2015 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Luis Valentino, the superintendent of the Albuquerque school district, resigned last week after a four-month tenure in the wake of a controversy over his hiring of a deputy superintendent later discovered to be facing child-sex-abuse charges.

At issue is the hiring of Jason Martinez, who joined the payroll without the required criminal-background check. Local media later reported that he was facing charges in Colorado for allegedly molesting two children.

A lawyer for the interim superintendent of human resources told the Albuquerque Journal that she had informed Valentino numerous times that Martinez’s background check was incomplete. Valentino admitted to making a mistake in the hiring process and said he was unaware of Martinez’s legal problems. Martinez also resigned.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the September 09, 2015 edition of Education Week as Albuquerque Chief Resigns for Hiring Accused Molester

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Reading & Literacy Webinar
(Re)Focus on Dyslexia: Moving Beyond Diagnosis & Toward Transformation
Move beyond dyslexia diagnoses & focus on effective literacy instruction for ALL students. Join us to learn research-based strategies that benefit learners in PreK-8.
Content provided by EPS Learning
Classroom Technology Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: Is AI Out to Take Your Job or Help You Do It Better?
With all of the uncertainty K-12 educators have around what AI means might mean for the future, how can the field best prepare young people for an AI-powered future?
Special Education K-12 Essentials Forum Understanding Learning Differences
Join this free virtual event for insights that will help educators better understand and support students with learning differences.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School Climate & Safety Opinion ‘Homemade’ Solutions to School Safety Can Be Fire Hazards. Here’s What to Know
With the threat of school shootings, it’s natural to guard against intruders. However, this urgency can lead to equally unsafe measures.
Lauris Freidenfelds
4 min read
Photo of chained school doors.
istock
School Climate & Safety How Did School Discipline Get Dragged Into the Presidential Election?
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have different track records on racial disparities in school discipline.
9 min read
Photo of teen girl waiting outside office.
iStock
School Climate & Safety Prepared But Not Scared: Biden Orders New Guidance on School Drills
Biden ordered new federal guidance on active shooter drills in schools.
3 min read
President Joe Biden signs an executive order that aims to help schools make active shooter drills less traumatic for students, during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris and others in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sept. 26, 2024.
President Joe Biden signs an executive order that aims to help schools make active shooter drills more effective and less traumatic for students during an event with Vice President Kamala Harris and others in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sept. 26, 2024.
Susan Walsh/AP
School Climate & Safety Preparing for and Responding to School Threats: Resources for Administrators
Resources to help schools prepare for and respond to threats of violence.
4 min read
Photograph of crime scene tape and school.
F. Sheehan for Education Week / Getty