Andrea Lisenbea Martin

Martin graduated from Northwestern State in 1965. Her first job was at West Leesville Elementary. Because of the military base, students were constantly moving in and out and it seemed she had a new class each six weeks. The next year she taught first and second grade Westside Elementary in Winn Parish. While there, she taught first and second grade with classes of 30-35 children. Second grade was her favorite. She was teaching when the district implemented integration over the Christmas holiday. After the break, the number of children in the school had greatly increased, the teachers were paired up and classes were crowded.

In 1973 she completed her master’s degree and in 1975, earned 30+ from Louisiana Tech University. She added leadership certification, reading specialist and gifted education to her teaching certificate. She was selected as an Outstanding Elementary Teacher of America in 1973.

Martin served as a reading coordinator for Westside, and later Eastside Elementary and Sikes High School. In 1976, she became the PATL (Positive Attitudes Toward Learning) project coordinator. In 1977 she was the Title III gifted/talented teacher and parish coordinator. From 1980-1984, she was the SPUR (Special Plan Upgrading Reading) team leader.

Martin became principal of Winnfield Kindergarten School in 1984. She served as the president of the Louisiana Association of Elementary School Principals and as an executive board member for the Louisiana Association of Principals. She was initiated into Phi Delta Kappa in 1987.  In 1993, she was a Principal of the Year finalist and National Distinguished Principal Zone 8-Louisiana. She was named the Louisiana Elementary Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal in 1997. After her retirement, she was the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Principals for 16 years.

Throughout her career, Martin served on numerous local, district, state and national committees, task forces and teams. She delivered numerous hours of professional development to assist other educators and has been a faithful advocate for public education.  She was honored as a 50-year member of the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa International Teachers’ Sorority. Through the years, she has held many chapter offices and volunteered for numerous committees. She has been an active wife, parent, grandparent and great grandparent while serving her school, church and community. Two of her children and two of her grandchildren entered the field of education.