The principal's office at Baskin Elementary School is a converted classroom. A teacher’s desk sits in the center, in front of a U-shaped configuration of rectangular tables. The principal's office is the hub where great minds huddle to create a roadmap for success. It is a place where excellence and goals are established. It is a place where teachers collaborate to analyze and discuss student data, give each other feedback about student work, and action plan to improve student performance. In the back of the room, Yvonne Martinez has set out snacks for anyone who needs them, and the door is truly always open.
“If there’s any situation that arises, the staff knows that I have an open-door policy and that if I’m not in my office, they can text or call me,” Martinez said. "My parents all have my cell phone number. Any parent that has a question or a concern, can call or text me and this is important because I take pride in being responsive and accessible."
It’s an openness that is welcome during the pandemic.
“One big takeaway from the pandemic was the shift in various forms of parent communication,” Martinez said. “We were communicating with our parents and families like never before. The way we would connect through Zoom, messaging systems, phone calls, home visits and even social media, it was such an increase in parent communication, and that made all the difference.”
Before coming to Baskin, Martinez worked 17 years in the district as a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator. Raised by two San Antonio ISD educators, she doesn’t remember a time when following in their footsteps wasn’t her goal.
“I was always fascinated by the work that my parents did,” she said. “I was impressed by the difference they made every day. I knew that was what I wanted to do. When they both retired, I started my SAISD career.”
Every morning, Martinez arrives at school ready to greet students. She also works with the fifth graders to make the morning announcements.
“One way I build relationships is the morning announcements with the kids,” she said. "Together, we set the tone for the day.”
From there, she makes it her goal to visit students and teachers.
“I love to be in the classrooms, talking to students about what they are learning and their academic goals,” Martinez said. “Students and staff are used to me being in the classroom and visible throughout the campus. As a team, we are laser focused on ensuring our students are receiving quality instruction daily and that they are growing socially, emotionally, and academically.”
She works throughout the day, checking in, greeting many of her students by name. At the end of the day, she’s in the drive-through lane, walking students to their cars.
“It's great to connect with our families on a daily basis,” she said.
She wants learning to be fun for the students and the teachers. She surprises classes that have perfect attendance. She brought in orange snacks for the staff for an “Orange you Glad it’s October?” celebration. They’ve got a new garden and two new chickens. The calendar is packed with themed dress days, encouraging students to come to school and learn.
The theme for their campus this year is “Level Up – Game On!,” which started with STEAM and gaming activities at Jumpstart, and has continued throughout every level of student development this year.
“Students know their academic achievement and growth goals, and we have an additional focus on social emotional learning,” Martinez said. “We work together to ensure our students have the right mindset, so we can get to the next level and be where we want to be. With the students and teachers working as hard as they are, we’re all leveling up, raising the bar, and our students are meeting our expectations. We believe it’s always a great day to be a Baskin Beagle!”
She knows that the work she and her staff of 50 do serves the larger community. And, she notes Baskin has an involved PTA that helps her serve students and teachers. It’s that service that keeps her going.
“It’s the idea that I can make a greater impact,” she said. “The idea that I’m able to serve the community of not just students, and staff, but parents, and community members. I lead with a lens of collaboration, that we are working together with our amazing teachers and awesome parents as our partners, so we can continue to grow together and do great things for kids.”