SAMANTHA   MARTINEZ

SOCIAL    JUSTICE     EDUCATOR

I am champion for equity and excellence in education. Having started my teaching career in the poorest school district in the country, it became clear that while a child's zip code should never be a determinant of success in a child's life, it unfortunately is. After spending my most formative years serving in the South Bronx, 1 relocated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and realized that the disparities in education for children of color in a rural setting were ali too similar to those seen in New York City. With a desire to more directly address the systemic barriers to success in education that impact low-income students of color, 1 left theclassroom and took on the role of founding two new programs that directly address social justice issues within the field of education.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FOUNDING SCHOOL LEADER

Polaris Village Academy_       2019 - Present

•   Redesigning what schooling looks like based on the needs of our students and their families. Creating a needs-based approach to education informed by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. Excellence in education, rooted in social justice.

•   Designing a school hand in hand with partnerships available within the community in order to remove barriers for our students and families, thus leading to academic success and eliminating educational disparities.

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Mid-Shore Scholars             2017-2019

•   Founded a college access and success program that engages and serves highly motivated, first-generation students in a rigorous multi-faceted program designed to enhance their academic achievements and to enroll and graduate from four-year colleges with minimal financia! loans.

DUAL LANGUAGE THIRD GRADE CLASSROOM LEAD

Talbot County Public School                   2015 - 2017

•     Worked within a team of three teachers to plan and implementa TRIO teaching style

•    Created and implemented a currículum that focused on newcomer population to meet their needs

EDUCATION

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Liberty University, 2013

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION

Roosevelt University, 2010

LEADERSHIP  DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE

•   Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Fellow

•   Harvard Graduate School Leaders of Color Fellow

•   Nation Swell Member

•   Talbot Family Network Local Management Board Vice Chair

•   The Country School DEI board member