Ashley Martinez

For Ashley Martinez, teaching is more than just a job--it’s a calling that is found in family and community. As a 5th grade ELAR (English Language Arts and Reading) teacher at Flour Bluff Intermediate, she has been able to make an impact on her students’ lives while also becoming a member of the Flour Bluff ISD family.

With nine years of teaching experience under her belt, two of which have been spent at Flour Bluff ISD, Martinez credits her mother, Mrs. Jackie Simmons, an Intermediate teacher herself, for inspiring her to pursue a career in education. 

“She's been a teacher almost my entire life, and seeing the impact that she was able to have for her students always inspired me. She still has old students, who are now adults, come up to her and tell her how much of an impact she made on their life. As a teacher, I hope to make the long-lasting impacts that I've seen my mom make,” Martinez said. “I've even already begun to run into past students who are now adults - it makes my day and warms my heart to see them all grown up!”

In addition to her work in the classroom, she serves as the campus technology integration specialist, yearbook sponsor, and an advisor for Helping Hands, a student organization dedicated to community service. She strives to bring creativity and innovation into her lessons while supporting her students in and out of the classroom. One of her core beliefs is building a safe and supportive environment for every student. 

“My number one priority is creating a classroom environment that is welcoming and safe, not just physically, but emotionally too. I spend a lot of time, both planned and unplanned, getting to know my students and building a rapport with them,” Martinez said. “My students know that I am always a safe person to talk to or seek help. Their emotional and physical health are even more important to me than their academic growth because without them, they cannot learn.”

Although Martinez has only been part of the Flour Bluff ISD community for a short time, she has quickly grown to appreciate its supportive atmosphere.

“When everyone gathers together to support our students or athletes or local agencies, it reminds me why we will continue to call Flour Bluff our home for the rest of our days,” Martinez said. “We are surrounded by a community who uplift and support each other in a way that I have never experienced before.”

When asked about her legacy, she spoke about the importance of inclusivity in education, working along other teachers as well.

“I want to leave behind a legacy of inclusivity and advocacy for my students, staff, and parents. As an inclusion teacher, I am always working towards refining and finding new practices to best promote inclusivity both with my lesson and within the classroom culture of my class,” Martinez said. “At the end of the day, I want ALL of my students to have had equitable opportunities to not only learn the content but also be a contributing part of the classroom.”

Outside of the classroom, she is a wife and mother to three children. Her husband, a Flour Bluff High School graduate, and their kids--Addie (6th grade), DJ (Kindergarten), and Olivia (in-home preschool)--keep her busy with extracurricular activities. The family is also in the middle of renovating their 1940s home in Flour Bluff, adding another project to their busy lives.

“We spend our nights and weekends coaching and attending soccer, softball, t-ball, basketball, or flag football practices at local leagues,” Martinez said. “We love to visit the beach, support local restaurants and businesses, and attend FBHS games - especially football and soccer games!”

One of her favorite events in the Flour Bluff ISD community is the Homecoming Parade. 

“I have been attending each homecoming parade with my family since long before I worked at the district. I love seeing the community come together as one to not only celebrate our teams and groups, but also to recognize and support the local community groups and teams,” Martinez said. “Now that I work at the district, the parade is extra special to me, as I get to see my students and past students out participating in the parade and watching from the side.”

Martinez’s commitment to education doesn’t stop in the classroom; she is also continuing her own academic journey. 

“I am actually graduating with my Master of Education in Educational Technology Leadership in May from Lamar University. During this program, I have also been working to obtain my principal certification,” Martinez said. “My next goal (hopefully for the 2025-2026 school year) is to move into an administrative position here at FBISD. I've had the pleasure of working with and training under several administrators across the entire district and am very grateful for the learning opportunities that they gave me.”

Ashley Martinez’s passion for teaching, her commitment to building inclusive and supportive classroom environments, and her deep love for the Flour Bluff community make her an invaluable part of the district. As she continues to grow both as an educator and a leader, there’s no doubt she will leave a lasting legacy for future generations of students!