Back in April of this year, Nicki Martinez was named the new Crookston High School Principal. We are now one month out from starting the 2021-2022 school year, and she is getting ready to tackle her first year on the job. Ms. Martinez brings a focus on professional development, curriculum experience, and passion for educational excellence.
She spoke on what her background was and what she can help implement here in Crookston. “Immediately before coming here, I was the assistant principal at Laporte Public Schools, but before that, I also taught English in Detroit Lakes as well as a few other various places,” said Martinez. “English is my background, and from there, I decided to pursue a leadership role.”
Martinez graduated from Hector High School in Minnesota, and even from her time in High School, Martinez knew she was a leader and wanted to push herself in her career. “In High School, I was in the student council and different leadership roles and knew to push myself in my career, I needed to keep going to the next steps,” said Martinez. “Growth is one of my core values, and I knew I had to push myself and put myself outside of my comfort zone to grow.”
Martinez’s official first day on the job was July 6, but she has attended the school board meetings for the months of May, June, and July this year. Martinez said she loves this part of the State and said Crookston just seemed like the right fit. “I like this part of the state, I have the experience in Detroit Lakes, so I’m used to being up in this area,” said Martinez. “When I looked at the report card for Crookston, I saw that there is a big Hispanic population, and me being the mom of two Bi-racial children, my heart obviously goes out to the Hispanic population, and it seemed like it was a good fit.”
Martinez has been using the time this summer to get acclimated and prepare for the upcoming school year but has admitted the summer will be nothing like this fall when school starts up. “Hard to say how I’m coming along because nothing right now is what it will be this fall,” said Martinez. “Everyone in the community has been extremely welcoming and is interested in what I have to bring to Crookston, which has made a move very easy.”
Going into her first year, Martinez talked about how her goals for the school align with what Crookston is trying to accomplish. “Last year, Crookston started focusing on literacy, and I come from that background with English, so that will be something we try and continue,” said Martinez. “When they told me I was hired, one of the reasons was because of my love for curriculum, and people in Crookston want to push things a little more rigorous in the academic world, which is something I feel like we will try and accomplish long term.”
Martinez and the rest of the Crookston High School members will have another month to prepare for the upcoming school year, as the first day of class is slated for Tuesday, September 7th.
