José Armando Martínez, Ed. D.
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Professional Experience
2018 - Present Principal
Archimedean Academy
Miami, Florida
Highlights:
• Perform in collaboration with the Superintendent and the school board all the academic, administrative,
leadership and parental/community engagement responsibilities of a principal of a top performing public
elementary charter school with a 650 K-5 student enrollment and a staff of 55 educators and administrators.
2010 - 2018 Vice-President of Operations-Marketing
BrainStrong, Inc.
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Educational services organization focused on brain-based research and its
application to after-school programs, professional development and school
transformation efforts in public and private schools.
Highlights:
• Created an organization based on the work of the Natural Learning Institute in CA (learning and teaching
organization that proposes research on 12 brain-based instructional principles);
• Aligned all programmatic and organizational design efforts and resources with the focus of the organization;
• Designed and implemented a marketing and corporate identity campaign;
• Worked with the President to recruit, hire, develop and supervise a staff that grew from 3 to over 50 FTE;
• Managed and set goals for senior staff (director of marketing, director of business and operations, human
resources director);
• Operationalized procedures and systems to manage and supervise the day-to-day operations of the
organization in the areas of marketing administration and finance;
• Evaluated the opportunities of the local public and private education markets to secure gross revenues of
over $20MM;
• Ensured diverse sources of funding including financial institutions, grants and donations;
• Cultivated relationships and generated leads for the organization with school directors, teachers and key
school district staff in public and private schools;
• Partnered with government officials; organizations and key stakeholders to augment the impact and visibility
of island-wide efforts to improve schools;
• Researched and analyze data on programs and operations;
• Presented results and plans to the President and key investors.
2006 - 2010 Executive Director
Sapientis
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Leadership development organization focused on creating a network of change
agents who improve public education on the island.
Highlights:
• Designed a successful organizational strategy that integrated the Teach for America model with Adaptive
Leadership from Harvard University to increase exponentially the number change agents (from 35 to over
500);
• Oversaw and evaluated organizational programs which grew exponentially from a single program in 2006 to
four programs by 2010;
• Evaluated goal attainment and held accountable a staff that tripled from 4 to 15 FTE;
• Developed and maintained a diverse funding base that surpassed its fundraising goal to reach $1MM;
• Positioned the organization as a key stakeholder gaining recognition in the field and the media as a leading
educational leadership organization;
• Served as the spokesperson and published articles and reports to support the purpose of the organization;
• Cultivated and strengthened relationships with key stakeholders, educators and district level staff;
• Invited to participate in various roles in key governmental reform efforts and higher education committees;
• Strengthened organizational systems and operations: marketing, finances and administration;
• Reported programmatic and organizational progress to the Board on goals of the strategic plan.
2003 - 2006 Program Director
Puerto Rico Community Foundation
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Private community foundation focused on supporting economic development,
affordable housing and quality education efforts on the island.
Highlights:
• Provided programmatic oversight in key areas: education, public housing and economic development;
• Researched and analyzed local and national data specific to the focus areas of the Foundation;
• Designed a middle school transformation strategy focused on integrating literacy, numeracy and parent
coaching as strategic levers to improve student outcomes;
• Provided professional development, supervision and training to key staff and consultants;
• Facilitated and executed a Memorandum of Understanding in participating schools, housing development
and economic development organizations;
• Created strategies and opportunities to connect funders and grants to the Foundation;
• Represented the Foundation in educational forums and the financial/housing markets;
• Strengthened the Foundation’s position as a key player in community-based efforts;
• Analyzed results and made recommendations to the President and Board regarding programs;
• Involved Board members in program impact to ensure their support and advocacy.
2000-2003 Assistant Superintendent of School Reform
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)
52,000 Students/Budget $500MM
Oakland, California
Throughout the 1990s, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), the Bay Area
Coalition for Equitable Schools (BACES), Oakland Community Organizations
(OCO), and other educational leaders in Oakland pursued an ambitious,
institution-changing agenda for Oakland’s public schools: the shift of significant
decision making over school operations to school sites. These goals were tied
two specific policy initiatives. Oakland’s School-Site Decision-Making Policy
passed the Oakland Board of Education in June of 1999 and the New Small
Autonomous Schools policy received approval in May of 2000. I was hired
through a collaborative recruitment effort as Assistant Superintendent.
Highlights:
• Established the office of school reform anchored on a set of shared practices focused on the transformation
of the power, processes and relationships between schools and district offices;
• Launched the implementation of policies aimed at ensuring students reach high academic standards through
more personalized learning environments and gave schools greater control;
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• Collaborated with Board, senior district leaders and staff to integrate separate efforts into cohesive school
transform efforts;
• Served as champion of a district-wide coordinated movement toward greater school-site flexibility and
autonomy.
• Built stakeholder enthusiasm and hope about the potential of site-based decision-making and new small
autonomous schools as levers for district-wide improvement;
• Unleashed a new sense of urgency for decisions about flexibility/autonomy, resources, staff, and other
supports for policy implementation;
• Sustained trust and authority from multiple stakeholders, media, politicians and community-based groups to
represent school improvement efforts and increased allies for the movement;
• Secured additional funding and grants from outside partners, foundations and non-profits to support new
small school transformation efforts;
• Oversaw day to day operations of over 40 schools including charters, alternative educational school sites,
small traditional elementary/middle schools and all comprehensive high schools;
• Supervised principals in schools and senior district level employees;
• Worked closely with the Superintendent to report progress and increase support from the Board of
Education.
1999-2000 Director of Assessment and Evaluation
Hayward Unified School District (HUSD)
24,000 Students/Budget $210MM
Hayward, California
Highlights:
• Collaborated with educators to implement the assessment, research and evaluation program;
• Created writing assessment and mathematics assessment for elementary grades;
• Designed a multiple measure assessment weighing and tracking system;
• Calculated and published the district’s first Academic Performance Index (API) scores.
• Analyzed student achievement data and school surveys to improve support services and professional
development efforts;
• Supervised staff to ensure teamwork and good communication;
• Served as liaison and champion of all assessment and evaluation efforts;
• Collaborated with the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction to elicit funds and support from the School
Board.
1997-1999 Accountability Manager
Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) – 14,000 Students
Alameda, California
Highlights:
• Implemented multiple measure-accountability system;
• Developed and implemented the district’s Graduate Profile district’s vision and expectations;
• Supported district’s initiatives after the closing of the military base;
• Acted as champion to the Arthur Anderson high-tech project at Encinal High School
1996-1997 Full Time Doctoral Student
Harvard University - Graduate School of Education
Cambridge, Massachusetts
1995-1996 Research Associate
Hunter College Technical Assistance Center
City University of New York, NY
Highlights:
• Designed and facilitated bilingual teacher development sessions through a federal grant;
• Secured additional funds for bilingual education through proposal and grant writing;
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1992-1995 Bilingual Teacher
NYC Board of Education-Rafael Cordero Bilingual School
Junior High School 45 - 200 students
New York City, NY
Highlights:
• I was part of Community School District-4 and its school-within a school/school choice program in
New York City. During the mid-eighties teachers were allowed to run new innovative programs
co-located within the same building under the supervision of a strong principal. My role was to
support fellow teachers, students and parents in the bilingual program. This rare opportunity
allowed me at a very early stage of my career to gain programmatic, leadership and school
operation experience.
Education
1996-02 Harvard University Ed.D.
Graduate School of Education June 2002
Concentration: Administration, Planning and Social Policy
Magna Cum Laude
Dissertation Topic: Teachers’ Conceptualizations of their Accountability
and Capacity to Improve Student Outcomes
1996-97 Harvard University Ed.M.
Graduate School of Education June 1997
Concentration: Administration Planning and Social Policy
Magna Cum Laude
1993-95 Hunter College CUNY M.S.
New York City, New York June 1995
Concentration: Science in Education and Bilingual Education
Suma Cum Laude
1986-90 University of Puerto Rico (UPR) B.A.
Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico June 1990
Concentration: European History
Magna Cum Laude
Awards and Distinctions
Recipient, 2000-2001 Advanced Doctoral Award-Harvard University
Recipient, 1996-1998 Feurstein Fellowship-Harvard University
Recipient, 1993-1995 Title VII Fellowship
Certification and Licenses
California Administrative Services Credential
California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential
Massachusetts Superintendent Credential
Massachusetts Administrative Credential
New York K-6 Public School Teacher License
New York K-6 Bilingual Extension-Permanent
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Membership and Associations
California Association of Bilingual Education
National Association of Bilingual Education
Association of California School Administrators
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Cross Cities Campaign National Board Member
International Youth Foundation
Council on Foundations
Major Publications and Presentations
May 2010 Being Accountable: the challenge facing public schools in PR
Editores Flamboyán, San Juan, PR.
March 2010 Mentoring Manual for School directors
Puerto Rico Department of Education
November 2008 Professional Standards for Teachers in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Department of Education
February 1997 “Technology in Education” Harvard University
Urban Superintendents Program
Cambridge, MA.
February 1994 “Educational Technologies that Improve Teaching and Learning”
Office of Bilingual Education and Minority Language Affairs
Washington, DC.
March 1994 “Using Educational Technology to Help Students Learn”
National Association of Bilingual Education
Los Angeles, CA
Language Skills
Fully bilingual Spanish/English
Conversational French
References
Furnished Upon Request
