About Mr. Martinez
You’ve
spent the last 18 years in LAUSD elementary schools in a variety of
roles. What’s your philosophy about the elementary school
experience?
First
of all, I believe that school should be fun.
Every
child should be encouraged and challenged to meet the academic
standards in a way that allows them to express who they are
individually.
What
made you decide on Carpenter?
I’ve
had wonderful experiences working at two schools with very large
reputations in the past.
Everything I heard about Carpenter was that the school is “one of a kind” – and so far it’s different than any other place where I’ve worked.
I’ve
had vastly different experiences – but in the end, it’s all about
the kids and the 825+ kids here have needs that must be addressed. I
look forward to working with the staff, parents and community to
ensure that we are providing a top-notch education for our students.
Any
first impressions of the school?
That’s
it’s a “one of a kind” place!
I
was really excited to hear about the trip to Washington D.C. for
fifth graders. And having an involved parent community that is
committed to providing a comprehensive enrichment programs is
something that interests me very much. Furthermore, I am very pleased
to see that Carpenter is committed to recycling and being “green.”
I hear great things about the faculty – and the staff members I’ve
met so far are terrific.
From
everything I see, the place really functions as a community – and
my job is to act as a coach/cheerleader to make sure we stay on
course and reach even greater heights.
You’ve
been on the job for a short time, but what kinds of things do you
hope to bring to the school?
I
really need to get to know the school. My short-term objective will
be to establish relationships with students. I plan on being very
visible and accessible before and after school and during all breaks.
I also want to get into classrooms so that I am more familiar with
each classroom.
My
long-term goal will be to work with the staff and our leadership
councils to identify academic areas that could be improved. In
addition, I’m really excited to see where we are with technology
and determine if we can advance our program.
If
there were only two or three things for our school community to know
about you, what would you want them to be?
First
of all, I rarely take myself too seriously, but I always take my job
seriously. A very wise kindergarten teacher gave me that advice when
I began teaching, and I believe that it has served me well. I enjoy
motivating students. If that means doing something silly or
outrageous to get the attention of the student body, I will do it
every time.
The
second thing I would want everyone to know is that I definitely put a
value on maintaining a balance between hard work and play. For
students - I will constantly be looking for ways to give them
enrichment/extra-curricular opportunities outside of their classroom.
For staff – I will be exploring ways to encourage physical fitness
and healthy living.
Lastly,
I am an avid cyclist. When I am not working, I am usually out of the
house by 6:00 a.m. either mountain bike riding in the Santa Monica
Mountains or doing a road ride somewhere in Malibu Canyon. I find
that cycling gives me an outlet for stress relief.
| © 2010 Carpenter
Avenue Elementary School A California Distinguished School  |
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