Jun 24, 2026
Educational Equity: Jenna Martin on Teaching Every Child
What does it take to build a classroom where every child can bring their whole self?
Dr. Jenna Martin has spent two decades chasing that question—from a paraprofessional job to a Fulbright in South Korea to leadership roles guiding the next generation of teachers. Adopted from South Korea and raised in a monolingual English home, she built her career on seeing students for who they really are.
In this episode, Jenna sits down with hosts Jody Tucker, Esther Valdez, and Allison Johnson for an honest, funny, and surprisingly moving conversation about identity, courage, and the quiet biases that shape who schools serve. Together, they name the "fear fence" we hide behind, challenge what equity actually means, and ask the kind of questions most educators are too uncomfortable to voice.
Dr. Jenna C. Martin is a dedicated educational leader with nearly 20 years of K-20 experience teaching, program directing, professoring, and equity-centered leadership. She is committed to cultivating, supporting, and retaining educators who reflect the students they teach through innovative learning systems, collaborative partnerships, and a commitment to dismantling systemic inequities. Her career includes roles as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in South Korea, a middle school English Language Arts, Social Studies, and English Language Development teacher, an Instructional Coach in Title I secondary schools, Dean of Instruction, Assistant Principal, Assistant Professor of Education, Program Director, and currently Program Manager in a local school district.
For books, resources, and events, visit:
theteacherleader.org
Thank you to our sponsor(s):
Math and Movement
Teacher Leader Summit
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