High School English Teacher, Collinsville High School
“Am I watching an elementary teacher, or a high school teacher?” The answer is Yes. A seasoned elementary teacher of twelve years, Mrs. Penny Martinez chose to sit for the secondary English certification test two years ago and has taught at Collinsville High School since. Imagine the joy of your favorite elementary teacher combined with the enthusiasm of your favorite secondary teacher. That’s Mrs. Martinez. She embodies what we loved about both our earliest and our last moments in school. Each senior watches her attentively as she explains how to write a strong thesis statement. Not a single teenager checks their phone. Her grace and gentleness are compelling, and her students willingly follow her lead. When it comes time to discuss what the thesis of their most recent reading might be, every student feels safe to answer. Mrs. Martinez validates every opinion. Even when students’ opinions are not exactly the same, they speak with respect to one another. Her classroom is one full of hope and kindness.
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What is your “why”?
My “why” is my passion for the students. I love education, and I am always looking for ways to continue to challenge myself as my students’ teacher. I want to make a difference. That said, I learn from them as well. Our students are so brilliant: they have such big thoughts. I love reading their writing and learning what they have to say.
Why did you choose to pursue secondary English education?
I look forward to working with high schoolers every day. I want my students to grow to love reading and to want to get lost in a book. With high schoolers, I enjoy earning their love. We cannot demand this of them; we have to earn it.
In Consideration of the teacher shortage, what are things we can do to support our teachers?
We must trust teachers to do what’s right for the kids in their classroom. We can’t focus on the handful of teachers with which we don’t agree. Educators are under such scrutiny constantly, and what we might forget is that they come–day in and day out–to love on kids. We are here for the kids; we love them. Still, this is a profession just like any other: we have all attained a bachelor’s degree; many of us have a master’s. We jump through a lot of hoops to put kids first. We desperately need respect.
We know that every day in the classroom may not be good, but there’s something good in every day. What’s your one good thing?
The beginning of the year is so fun because it’s a new group of people. I love getting to know each class’s dynamic and learning how to best support them. I look forward to coming to work every day. My good thing is the kids. I truly enjoy spending my days with them. I love seeing students succeed, and I want to help them feel confident. I am passionate about building a classroom where we understand respect is important across the board: everyone’s points are valid, even if we don’t agree. What each of them has to say is important.
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Penny Martinez cultivates a classroom culture where every answer is a valid answer, where every voice is respected, and where each child feels safe to speak–even when others may disagree. It is classrooms like Mrs. Martinez’s that spark hope for the future. She propels students into a space where we look for commonalities instead of highlighting differences–a space in which we have the freedom to ask, “What if we’re both right?”–a space where curiosity is celebrated. After all, the future belongs to the curious.
Thank you, Mrs. Martinez.
Thank you, Teachers of Oklahoma.
