A survey of a handful of states with similar population sizes found New Mexico is the only one in which the person in charge of schools is a Cabinet-level executive.

NEW MEXICO

Education Secretary Veronica Garcia, who was appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, is paid an annual salary of $173,859.

She has two deputy secretaries: Catherine Cross Maple, deputy secretary for learning and accountability ($116,949), and Don Moya, deputy secretary for finance and operations ($120,422).

The department has eight assistant secretaries:

• Tom Dauphinee, interim assistant secretary of the Assessment and Accountability Division ($108,170).

• Don Duran, assistant secretary of the Charter Schools Division ($89,563)

• Mary Rose C de Baca, assistant secretary of the Educator Quality Division ($102,892)

• Nancy Martine-Alonzo, assistant secretary of the Indian Education Division ($89,563)

• Vacant, assistant secretary of Instructional Support and Vocational Education Division (job has paid $81,500)

• Gilbert Perea, assistant secretary of the Program Support and Student Transportation Division ($97,603)

• Sheila Hyde, assistant secretary of the Quality Assurance and Systems Integration Division ($87,808)

• Jim Holloway, assistant secretary of the Rural Education Division ($95,687)

• Austin Buff, director of the Administrative Services Division ($105,000)

The department employs two public information officers: Beverly Friedman ($70,922) and Danielle Montoya ($77,000)

New Mexico had 323,888 K-12 children for the 2008-2009 school year.

Source: New Mexico Public Education Department

UTAH

Utah has a superintendent of public instructions, appointed by the governor, with an annual salary of $178,500.

One deputy superintendents earns $149,229 and three associate superintendents make between $114,067 and $133,047 a year.

The department has one public information officer, who makes $62,501.

Utah had 551,013 K-12 students served by district as of October, 2008.

Source: Utah State Office of Education

IDAHO

Idaho has an elected state superintendent of public instruction, who is paid an annual salary of $91,025.

The state has six deputy superintendents, each of whom is paid $89,315 a year.

The department has one public information officer, who is paid $54,995.

Idaho has about 275,000 K-12 children who are served by the department.

Source: Idaho State Department of Education

NEBRASKA

The commissioner of education is appointed by the state Board of Education and is paid an annual salary of $207,500.

One deputy commissioner earns $122,000 a year and one assistant commissioner earns $108,045.

The department has one public information officer, who earns $57,062.

Nebraska has 292,069 public school students.

Source: Nebraska Department of Education

KANSAS

Kansas has a commissioner of education, appointed by the state Board of Education, who is paid $170,000 a year.

The department has two deputy commissioners. One earns $120,000 a year and the other is paid $155,000.

The department has one public information officer, who makes about $76,000.

Total state-only funding for the 2007-2008 fiscal year: $3,131,495,347.

Kansas had 473,097 K-12 students served by the department in the 2008-2009 school year.

Source: Kansas State Department of Education