Principal Jeff Martin is an instructional leader who models best practices for his staff and students at Clarendon Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona. As a former ELA middle school teacher, he understands the responsibilities of his teachers in their classroom every day and works tirelessly to put both educators and students at the heart of everything he does. Martin is so committed to hands-on leadership that he selects a classroom to teach during the first quarter of each school year to ensure he remains in touch with the students’ and teachers’ needs.
Martin is a highly engaged leader with a focus on strong staff collaboration. Through the district’s implementation of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s (NIET) systems for educator excellence, leadership and professional growth, Martin works with master and mentor teachers to outline school goals each year, attends weekly department and PLC (Professional Learning Community) meetings, and leads weekly meetings with new teachers throughout the school year. His active involvement, data-driven approach, and positive support to colleagues and students alike have contributed to Clarendon’s high retention of outstanding teachers, a jump from a C to a bonified B state rating, and the receipt of the Arizona Educational Foundation’s A+ School of Excellence Award.
Martin’s enthusiasm extends to the community where he revamped the school PTO, started Bring Your Special Person to School Day, increased the school’s social media presence to improve parent-school communication, and is a regular presence at community events. He is often invited by the district to participate in policy discussions, and was selected to present at Arizona’s ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Conference with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) on the impact of building instructional leadership teams in schools.
Martin completed a Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University in 2011. At Arizona State University, he earned a Master of Arts in secondary education (2013) and a Master of Arts in educational leadership (2019).
Press Release: Phoenix Principal Jeff Martin Surprised with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
