About three months into the school year, the students and parents of San Juan School are settling under the leadership of a permanent principal: Jorge Martinez.
Martinez joined the campus in late November, replacing retired educator and interim leader Taffra Mayo, after Kyle Griffith, the site’s former principal, took another job before the start of this school year.
“I’m happy to have an excellent principal in the chair,” said Superintendent Ruben Zepeda. “Mr. Martinez is phenomenal.”
The district offered Martinez $118,333 in salary and benefits annually, though the package would be pro-rated this school year since he was joining mid-year, explained Anita Hendrickson, the district’s human resources manager, in an email to the Free Lance.
San Juan School, off Nyland Drive in San Juan Bautista, is different from other sites in the district because the K-8 campus includes a K-5 Spanish dual-immersion program.
“I’m bilingual and I believe in the dual-language program,” Martinez said. “Our students need that right now to communicate in our global economy for the 21st century.”
San Juan School, like other sites across the state, has been plagued with staffing issues this year. The statewide teacher deficit left the rural district starting the year short two instructors, so Zepeda spent part of this school year teaching math, science and physical education from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and doing his administrative duties during lunch and after work. Later, the superintendent filled the school’s principal position while the district looked for a permanent leader.
“Right now, we’re fully staffed,” Martinez said. “I know two of the classrooms have long term substitutes but we have a teacher in every classroom right now.”
Martinez is a Salinas resident, who grew up in Watsonville when Aromas School—now part of the Aromas-San Juan Unified School District—was part of a Pajaro Valley school district. He has worked in the realm of education for 16 years, first as a teacher, then as an instructional coach and finally as an assistant principal.
Martinez sees similarities between Watsonville, where he grew up, and Hollister. The areas have large Hispanic populations, a strong agricultural presence and a “small community, small town feeling,” the new principal said.
His plan for the rest of this school year includes having high expectations; improving state standardized test scores, and boosting school culture by focusing on academics and positive behavior, he said.
Parents, faculty and students have been happy to have him on site, Zepeda said. The students met him with clapping and cheering, the superintendent said.
“They’re really excited to have a permanent principal,” Zepeda said.
The new principal has already gotten involved with the community. Martinez has gone to English Learner Advisory Committee and home and school club meetings, plus he was planning to be at a San Juan Bautista holiday parade, Zepeda told the Free Lance earlier this month.
Martinez learned of the position through some of his colleagues.
“When someone mentioned it to me, I thought I would be a good fit,” he said.
Martinez graduated from Watsonville High School, then went to Cabrillo College and San Jose State University before pursuing a master’s
degree in administration from California State University, Bakersfield.
After Martinez stepped into administration, his goal was to become a principal, he said. Taking a leadership role in San Juan Bautista has put him in contact with some familiar faces.
“It’s nice. It’s like coming home,” he said. “I still know people that live in Aromas and now some of my classmates live here in San Juan (Bautista).”
