Rowdy conversations filled with collaboration among the students are heard throughout the walls that make up her classroom. But once you hear a lively voice saying, “Okay, darlings,” you know you are in the presence of the great and powerful Ms.Martinez.
Neuwirth’s 10th Grade Social Science teacher, Ms Martinez, is more than just a teacher but a hard-working staff, who is also a mother to all, despite all the challenges she has faced she does her best to make sure all her students and those around her aren’t affected by any of her problems by putting a smile on her face.
“Ms. Martinez is very funny and fun to hang out with,” said Damaris Jimenez, a junior who had her during her sophomore year. When we had Martinez, she was a strong and resilient teacher who passionately taught her classes. She was open about her vulnerability, and to Damaris, she often appeared to be a “cheerful person who is happy to be at school.”
“Her teaching style is amazing; she is supportive and gives you time to write down details about the lesson”, Damaris stated humorously. Ms. Martinez made every class enjoyable and entertaining with her constant jokes and comments about world history. Even though her attitude was playful and spirited in class, she was and is serious about specific topics. She made sure everyone was mature and productive. When we had to take the AP test near the end of last year, she baked cookies with love and care for her students in the hope they would succeed and perform well.
In our experience, she is a trustworthy individual who cares profoundly for her students. She works hard not just to make sure everyone feels welcomed or to foster collective group effort, but to make the content she teaches comprehensible, showing how much of a fascinating teacher she is.
Martinez manages a very busy workload: AP classes, on-level World History, Grade-Level Leadership responsibilities for advisory planning, and Racial Equity Leadership Council. During the panic about deportation and immigration, she was the one who made the red cards and slideshows for the students to learn ways to protect themselves from potential encounters with ICE, even though she wasn’t required to; she just wanted to show her unconditional appreciation for the student body.
Outside of her responsibilities as a teacher at Neuwirth, she loves to bake, and people who have tried her heartfelt cookies know how flavorful and delicious they are. Ms.Martinez expressed how it provides “a sense of calm and helps me relax. I also enjoy running and reading Goosebumps books with my son under the pillow forts we make”.
“I think very highly of Ms.Martinez. I think she is brilliant, empathetic, kind, thoughtful, and cares deeply about her work, the world around her, and how to improve it,” said Mr.Winchell, Neuwirth’s APUSH teacher and Director of Instruction, who has known Ms. Martinez since 2019. In her classroom, Ms.Martinez is seen directing her class enthusiastically and encouraging her students to join her discussions to ensure a deeper understanding of the topics they learn about. Even in silence, the students are reading along and participating with the support and help of Ms.Martinez, showing how she facilitates learning to provide possibilities for critical thinking. She incorporates her love for history and “tries to build a love of history and personal agency in her own kids,” said Mr.Winchell. To her colleagues, she is much appreciated, and many have acknowledged her empathy for the scholars at Neuwirth.
Of course, the center of Ms. Martinez’s chaotic life is her son, Adam, whom she loves very much. You may have seen him wandering around the school, as he is sometimes in the classroom with Ms. Martinez. She cares for him essentially by herself, which leads to the juggling act between her personal and work life. She stated, “I don't have any family here to help me, but I've created my own little village here. The friends that I have made have become my new chosen family, and I love every single one of them and the joy they bring into my life.” For her, “As hard as it is, it is so rewarding to watch my students grow”.
“She has become the older sister I always wanted and is someone who I will forever have a spot for in my life. We have created countless memories together that I will always cherish,” said Ms.Magdaleno, the 10th-grade English and Honors teacher whom she has known for 10 years. She met Ms.Martinez in 2015 while a member of Teach for America Los Angeles, and the two have been inseparable, having fun together ever since. “She was a goddess walking on earth,” so she did her “best to impress her so that we could be friends”.
“She positions her students to see themselves in the curriculum, which is a great feat considering that she is teaching her students about cultures outside of their own. Moreover, she does an excellent job at inspiring students to be historians and develop a love for this subject”.
Although Ms.Martinez has gone through some difficult times in her life, she finds ways to relieve the stress from the overwhelming workload she faces. “I do find myself sometimes going to the bookstore on weekends to grade while my son runs around for a couple of hours, and it does make me feel guilty as a mom and as a teacher.” However, she explains, “I am really proud of myself for choosing to go to therapy and sticking with it for about 4 years now. It has taught me to set boundaries, not feel guilty for doing things for myself, and establish healthy relationships. All these things can be difficult to do, so to see how far I have come in terms of my mental health is an achievement in my eyes”.
Ms.Martinez is extremely talented and phenomenal, considering all that she does. Her benevolence is unmistakably discernible. She is a strong woman who not only focuses on one specific person but treats everyone equally and fairly, whether it’s on the school campus or outside. Ms. Martinez is an outstanding teacher who focuses more on a student’s behavior and actions and checks in with students who feel unwell, even if she too is not feeling right. She strives to push her students into paying attention, finishing their assignments, and wishes everyone a successful future. Overall, Ms.Martinez is an exceptional teacher, and she should be remarkably valued for her work, not only as an individual and a mother but as a person who deals with the hurdles of life.
Extra!
If you’ve ever wondered what a day in Ms.Martinez’s life looks like:
“I wake up at 4 AM every day. I then run, pack lunch for my son, clean around our home, wake him up, get him ready for school, drop him off, and then make my way here. After school, I usually have to run out to take my demon child to soccer practice or his guitar lessons. Once we get home, I make dinner, fight Adam so he does his homework, give him a bath, make him brush and floss his teeth, and change for bed. We then read our bedtime spooky story, and I wait for him to fall asleep, so that I can wash the dishes and usually take a couch nap before I go to bed”.
