Marion H. Martinez

Currently the Associate Commissioner for Teaching, Learning, and Instructional Leadership for the Connecticut Department of Education, Marion H. Martinez has dedicated more than 30 years of service as an educator and educational administrator. In her present position, Dr. Martinez has worked with stakeholders to formulate teacher certification requirements while serving on various steering committees, developing strategic plans, and directing projects such as the Secondary School Reform Initiative and the Common Core State Standards Initiative. In conjunction with her role in state government, Marion H. Martinez presently serves as an adjunct faculty member at Central Connecticut State University, where she lectures on school leadership and teacher education. Earlier in her professional career, Marion H. Martinez filled the role of Superintendent of East Hartford Public Schools, where she assumed a hands-on leadership approach and effected significant gains in the district. During her tenure in East Hartford, Dr. Martinez focused substantial efforts on early education, implementing a district-wide full-day kindergarten program and initiating an Early Intervention Reading Program for children performing below their grade level. In addition, she successfully increased parental involvement through ongoing partnership with the district’s United Parent Community Coalition and by conducting regular roundtable conversations with members of the community, including Spanish-speaking parents.