ROWLAND UNIFIED TEACHER PAULA MARTINEZ SELECTED AS A 2024

LOS ANGELES COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

The Rowland Unified School District is pleased to announce that educator Paula Stella Martinez has been selected as one of the top 16 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year. Martinez was honored at the 2024 Los Angeles County Teachers of the Year ceremony by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Martinez was also honored with her family by the Rowland Unified School District's Board of Education at the October 10, 2024 Board Meeting.

Martinez, a powerhouse educator who is proud to call Rowland Unified her home, is an inspiration in and out of the classroom. She has been an educator for more than 25 years, igniting young minds daily teaching History, English and an award-winning debate program to seventh and eighth graders at Telesis Academy of Science and Math in West Covina. Martinez is also a proud alumni of Rowland Unified who attended Rowland High School. A family of educators, her mother taught in the District and her sister and brother-in-law are also teachers in RUSD.

Martinez graduated from Stanford University with a degree in American Studies and always knew she wanted to work as a teacher of United States history and literature. “My grandfather and mother were both professional teachers. As a granddaughter of immigrants from Mexico and Italy, I was blessed to observe the perspectives of people who cherished the United States education system as a beacon of opportunity and equality,” said Martinez. “My greatest accomplishments in education are providing opportunities to young people, guiding students to learn, and hosting extracurricular activities to empower youth. I believe every student before me has potential and capability, regardless of background."