Washoe superintendent fired over allegations he misrepresented his credentials

Washoe County School Superintendent Pedro Martinez was fired Tuesday over allegations he had misrepresented his financial background, charges he vociferously denied and said he was hiring a lawyer to fight the ouster.

'There is no basis for it," Martinez told me late Tuesday. "They completely violated my contract."

Martinez's dismissal was announced in a bizarre news release tweeted late Tuesday afternoon that said Martinez had been "relieved of duty."

Most school officials were unavailable. But Trustee Estella Gutierrez, on her way to Oakland, said she was shocked and saddened. "I have a lot of questions why it was done in such a hurry," she said.

Martinez confirmed a report I heard from an insider who told me he had been accused of resume inflation and was escorted out of his office.

Martinez said he was accused of claiming to be a CPA, but he asserted he had only touted his financial background, which is evident on his resume.

"I never said I was a licensed CPA," Martinez told me.

The departing superintendent said school officials "harassed me, threatened how bad this would be for me and my family (if he didn't leave)."

I asked him if he was thinking of hiring a lawyer.

"I have to," he said.

The Gazette-Journal has an updating blog about Martinez, who recently received a performance review. He is a former deputy superintendent from Clark County and came to Reno in 2011.