As the year begins, freshmen aren’t the only newbies roaming the halls, as new teachers have joined the Salesian family for the 2024-2025 school year. One especially quirky teacher, who resides in room 317, has already made her mark amongst the AP Literature and English Dual Enrollment students attending her class.
English Dual Enrollment student, Gabriel Ferrer, shared, “Dr. Maria Martinez brings a lively energy to the classroom that makes the course exciting to take.”
“Mrs. Martinez’s positive words and Disney movie references to begin class always get me smiling and in a good mood,” AP Literature senior Chloe Ruiseco said.
Her students appreciate her thoughtful and creative approach as most who sign up for AP enter apprehensively, knowing that this is a challenging class requiring much study.
“Her meditative movements which she has the students partake in before teaching is my favorite part of the class,” said senior and AP Literature student Alina Figueroa.
In addition to these exuberant add-on’s to her class routine, Dr. Martinez has expertise up her sleeve with past experience teaching at the college level for which ILS students will surely benefit.
“Prior to ILS, I taught at Miami-Dade College and at the University of Wisconsin,” she shared.
Dr. Martinez went on to explain there isn’t much of an educational difference between her college students and current high school students, yet there is a more prominent factor that sets them apart.
She has discovered a unique trait in the community at the bayshore campus, an environment she classifies as “new and fascinating.”
“ ” she further elaborated.
For now, Dr. Martinez finds herself intrigued and grateful, labeling her personal adventure which led her to ILS a “series of fortunate events.
