fresh view on the world

is very superficial,” she said. “You come in and leave and you don’t really retain anything. You just aren’t interested in coming to class.”

It sure is working. Her students love everything she does for them and how real of a person she is. She is authentic and peels back her outer shell to reveal her bright personality. She stays professional while maintaining an undiminishing connection with her students.

Lola Tuten, 11, thinks that it is impossible to find a teacher like Martinez. Her style of teaching is unique, expanding on more than just Spanish. Tuten notes that her teacher has guided her through tough times. She reminds her of her stepmother, acting as a mother figure at school.

“She’s helped me get a lot better at being confident about what I’m saying and explaining certain situations,” Tuten said. “She is sarcastic enough to bond with younger people, but old enough to keep them grounded, in a way, while also putting in hints of humor every once in a while and talking about really good life lessons.” have to demand respect, Martinez earns respect from her students. Junior Uriah Williams is a student of Martinez that has grown a special bond with her.

“Everytime I come into the classroom, I am always yelling to say, ‘Hi’ or I dance around her desk,” Williams said. “It’s always fun, it’s always light, but she’ll keep me in line if I need to be.”

She always manages to brighten students’ days. Even if it is with the littlest things, she makes every moment count. Martinez takes interest in the students, showing that she cares.

“She has exposed me to a different way of learning,” he said. “I think, in the future, I will seek out other educators like her.”

Leslie Martinez wants her students to thrive and survive not just in high school, but also in life. She wants her students to learn more about the world, especially concerning Latin America.

“Her goal, as a teacher, is to show the love of Spanish-speaking countries through her own little way, to the point where people fall in love with it, too,” Tuten said.

WELL-CULTURED AND WELLROUNDED: Spanish teacher, Leslie Martinez, assists a student on their assignment for class.

Martinez wants to give her students a new experience so that she can bring something remarkable to their lives. She also emphasizes the importance of being personal with her students.

“I think that if you don’t really get to know each other, then everything

Martinez is funny and kind to others. However, she is also stern and not one to waiver when she has made up her mind. Most importantly, she acts accordingly in the right situations. That gives her an irreproducible balance.

While other teachers sometimes

Martinez aims to enhance the Spanish learning experience by teaching about Spanish culture from her own experiences.

“She is just so well-cultured and well-rounded. You always leave the classroom knowing more about history, culture, and Spanish,” Williams said.