About Me

Hello, everyone! I’m Mr. Martinez. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in History with a minor in Jewish Studies and Geography from Fresno State. I also have a Single Subject Teaching Credential, which is also from Fresno State. Recently, I graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Master’s Degree in History. 

I have taught every social science subject, including such classes as Geography, World History, United States History, Sociology, Psychology, Civics, and Economics. I taught for four years at Jamison Continuation High School and one year at Madera South High School. I now have the privilege of beginning the school year at Matilda Torres High School. 

Other than “most goofy” in my high school yearbook, my greatest achievement is balancing my small Photobooth business, teaching career, and being a husband and father all at the same time. One of my most memorable achievements was an opportunity to study abroad in  Eastern Europe during college for three weeks. 

A wise man once told me, “Treat others as they are, and not the way you want them to be.” I’m lucky enough to have many inspirational people in my life, but I am partial to people who use their influence for good. I admire Bill Nye the Science Guy, Neil Degrasse Tyson, and Mister Rogers. I strive to balance the head, the hand, and the heart. It takes critical thinking, hard work, and compassion to be a well-rounded person. I want to always be a curious soul, and try to understand our world and how to leave it a better place than when I found it. 

Other than teaching, I love having quality family time with my wife and son. I also enjoy rock climbing, hiking, traveling, and board game nights. I love traveling to the Pacific Northwest; you can’t go wrong with pretty much anywhere in that region. The vast forests and ferns are a beautiful sight to see. I am passionate about history and how it helps us explain where we’ve been, and potentially, where we are going. Surprisingly, my favorite subject in high school was not history! I enjoyed my chemistry class doing experiments (especially the homemade ice cream, which almost tempted me enough to take the class twice). However, history is truly what I am meant to teach, and I enjoy sparking that interest in students and anyone willing to listen. 

Let’s have a great school year, and go Toros!