Back in middle school, Gabriella听Martinez鈥檚 mentors and teachers left an impression on her that changed the course of her career ambitions 鈥� she knew she wanted to be a teacher.听
鈥淭hey were inspiring to me because they weren't afraid to be themselves in the classroom, it made them really easy to relate to and build relationships with,鈥� Martinez said. 鈥淚 want to build similar relationships with students and hopefully impact their lives the way my teachers affected mine.鈥�
Martinez has been mentoring students in the Adelante! Program at Boulder High School for the past four years. She also completed her student teaching at Boulder High School, what she calls her second home. Working with first generation students in the Adelante! Program and helping them prepare for college has been rewarding and has turned into one of her passions.听
鈥淢y students in Adelante! have helped me realize that I want to be an equitable educator who provides opportunities for students like them to accomplish their dreams,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll students deserve someone who loves them and believes in them; that's what I hope to be.鈥�
A Denver native, Martinez received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Political Science from CU Boulder. As a freshman, she was a student employee in the Office of Student Services where she learned about the Master's Plus听Teaching Licensure program. The MA+ program allows students to earn their Master鈥檚 in Curriculum and Instruction while working toward their teacher licensure. Martinez saw the program a 鈥渘atural fit鈥� and an efficient way to work toward her goals.听
Between her field experiences, work with Adelante! and her internship with the Boulder County Latino History Project Teacher Workshop, Martinez is committed to the principles of social justice and lessons that engage students and champion under-told histories.
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鈥淎ttending the School of Education at CU has been hugely influential for me, it helped me develop a teaching philosophy rooted in social justice and introduced me to instructors and peers who I continue to learn from every day,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ecause of what I've learned through this program I feel that I can be an effective and compassionate teacher.鈥�
