Mission
Equity, Excellence and Relevance
The New Mexico Public Education Department partners with educators, communities, and families to ensure that ALL students are healthy, secure in their identity, and holistically prepared for college, career, and life.
Vision
Rooted in Our Strengths
Students in New Mexico are engaged in a culturally and linguistically responsive educational system that meets the social, emotional, and academic needs of ALL students.
Additional Information
PED’s Entry and Learning Plan defines goals for the future of New Mexico education and the New Mexico Public Education Department.
Department Leadership
Mariana Padilla
Secretary Designate
Mariana Padilla has served as the director of the New Mexico Children’s Cabinet since the start of the Lujan Grisham administration, leading the governor’s child and family well-being agenda. She also served as the governor’s senior education policy advisor, overseeing early childhood, K-12, and higher education. In this role, Padilla helped shape program, policy, and budget priorities, and worked across state agencies to implement key initiatives and system-wide improvements. Her accomplishments include establishing the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, launching a statewide literacy initiative, and driving the governor’s Cradle to Career education agenda supporting students from birth through college and career readiness.
Padilla has stepped in as acting cabinet secretary for both the Public Education Department and the Children, Youth and Families Department, and has served on numerous boards and councils, including the Public School Capital Outlay Council, which oversees and awards capital projects for schools statewide.
As public education secretary, Padilla will prioritize improving academic achievement, increasing student attendance and engagement, ensuring on-time graduation, and creating pathways to college and career success. She is committed to building school communities where all students feel supported and can thrive.
Padilla began her career as an elementary school teacher in Albuquerque’s South Valley. She later earned dual master’s degrees in community and regional planning and water resources from the University of New Mexico. Before becoming the director of the Children’s Cabinet, she served as the state director for then-Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham for six years, overseeing New Mexico policy and constituent services.
A native New Mexican, Padilla was raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley, where she attended Albuquerque Public Schools alongside her three siblings. Inspired by her parents, both retired educators, she has dedicated her career to education and public service. She and her husband are proud parents of three daughters, all of whom attend public schools in Santa Fe.
Seana Flanagan
Managing Director
Seana is Managing Director. Previously, she was Division Director of Educator Quality and has been with PED since 2014. Before joining the Public Education Department, Seana was a middle school educational assistant and teacher in Vermont. She also worked in retail leadership and training for multiple companies, including Apple.
Dr. Candice Castillo
Deputy Secretary of Identity, Equity and Transformation
Dr. Candice Castillo is the Deputy Secretary of Identity, Equity and Transformation. She oversees such things as federal programs, safe and healthy schools, language and culture, and the Black and Hispanic education acts, as well as student, school and family support.
Amanda DeBell
Deputy Secretary of Teaching, Learning and Innovation
Amanda is Deputy Secretary of Teaching, Learning and Innovation. As part of her role, she will support educator quality and curriculum, instruction and assessment. Community and charter schools, as well as struggling schools, fall under her purview.
Gregory Frostad
Assistant Secretary of Policy, Research and Technology
Gregory is Assistant Secretary of Policy, Research and Technology. During his nine years with the agency, he has managed the COVID response for schools, supervised the successful submission of more than $20 million in competitive grants and worked with the legislature and Governor’s Office to achieve the largest funding for New Mexico schools in history.
KatieAnn Juanico
Assistant Secretary of Indian Education
KatieAnn is Assistant Secretary of Indian Education. As part of her job, she will lead Indian Education Programs, Native American language and culture projects, and tribal consultations.
Antonio Ortiz
Director of Finance and Operations
Antonio Ortiz is the Director of Finance & Operations which includes oversight of the School Budget Bureau, School Finance Bureau, Administrative Services Division, and the Transportation/Capital Outlay Bureau and has been with PED since 2002. He also serves as PED’s designee on the Public School Capital Outlay Council and the Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force. Most important, Antonio is a proud father of a beautiful son who is currently attending the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Margaret Cage
Deputy Secretary of Special Education
Dr. Margaret Cage is a proud product of public school education and a long-time educator of over 25 years. She has invested her career in transforming schools and school systems to improve the futures and lives of all students. Dr. Cage has served as a teacher, instructional coach, turnaround specialist, school leader, and school system director. She is a proud wife, mother of three, and a GiGi to a very special little boy.
Dr. Cage holds a Bachelor of Science degree in pre-law from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, a certification in special education, a Master of Arts in educational leadership, and a Doctorate of Education in executive educational leadership from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has also completed several educational fellowships focused on improving student outcomes for diverse learners, and she has served as a state-contracted reviewer for the Academic Recovery and Acceleration Plan, providing funding for compensatory services before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Cage is passionate about creating environments where students can thrive and is an advocate for equity and inclusion, especially for those with diverse needs. She is grateful for the opportunity afforded to her from appointment by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the creation of the Office of Special Education. Dr. Cage looks forward to carrying out Governor Lujan Grisham’s vision to ensure every New Mexico student, including those with disabilities, receives a high-quality education.