Judy Marty is the catalyst for her school’s rise to success.
As the principal of Mater Academy Charter Middle/High and Performing Arts Academy, she has taken her school to new heights, from a little known facility in Hialeah to a National Blue Ribbon Award winner and invitations to showcase her students’ talents during statewide competitions.
And an independent research institute and government watchdog organization has been taking notice and honored Marty for her leadership.
Marty won the 2015-2016 Florida Tax Watch Elite Principal of the Year award during a ceremony held in her honor at her school, 7901 N.W. 103 Street in Hialeah.
The honor is giving to principals whose students exceed expectations in learning gains in high-risk schools, where students’ achievement gains in reading and mathematics demonstrated Marty’s “incredible leadership skills in education.”
“These remarkable principals are actively involved in raising student achievement through their effect manager efforts,” said Florida Education Commissioner Pam Steward. “With leadership such as theirs, we can ensure every Florida student has a quality teacher in the classroom.”
Marty said she oversees a school with 3,400 students from sixth to 12th grade.
She said she’s has an open door policy and is “very” visible during the entire school day, walking the halls, visiting classrooms, meeting with teachers, department heads and parents. “I have an open door philosophy and everyone can see me on a daily basis so I can see what’s going on,” she said. “I come in and I see and talk to a lot of parents and the department heads.”
Marty said she molded her leadership to reflect the three R’s: Rigor, Relevance and Relationship. A rigorous curriculum that believes that all students can learn and achieve beyond their perceived limitations. The relevance of a curriculum to the world that young minds can relate to and associate with. The relationships that evolve from a caring, hard-working, and passionate group of administrations, faculty and staff teaching students so they know they care about their education and well being.
"I have expectations for everybody in the school," she said. "We are beating the odds."
Beyond the classrooms, Marty is supporting her student-athletes on the playing fields.
She attends their games and let her students know that she’s in the crowd cheering them on.
“I am showing them that someone cares about them,” she said.
Marty’s school will have an opportunity to present itself at a showcase conference in Central Florida in 2016 .
Mater Academy was among 17 high-performing middle and high schools selected for the Breaking Ranks Showcase School in March in Orlando, as part of the NASSP Breaking Ranks K-12 Conference.
It will be the third appearance for Mater Academy in 10 years, Marty said.
The showcase provides an opportunity to learn from, and interact with principals, teacher leaders and students representing exemplary middle level and high school practices