Jen C Martinez
for a Scotch Plains seat on the
Scotch Plains-Fanwood Department of Education School Board Member, November 2026-2029
Who am I?
I am a mental health advocate, small business owner, future school psychologist, and, as a substitute teacher, I’ve seen the inside of every school in our district as well as in many surrounding communities. As a sub, I’ve already met and made connections with so many of your amazing littles (and not-so-littles) that it’s only inspired me to find a greater role through which to support them.
I am a proud mom of a large, blended family that includes, amongst others, a high school sophomore and a soon-to-be kindergartner (future class of ‘37!) in our schools.
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and after a stint in Florida, found my forever home in Scotch Plains in 2019. Nothing compares to the sense of community I found here, and there isn’t a day I am not grateful for it. There is nowhere else I want to raise my children.
What is it?
School boards “sets the policies, goals and objectives for the district – and it holds the superintendent responsible for implementing the policies and achieving the goals…. they represent the concerns of the citizens, taxpayers and parents to the school administrators, and to represent the needs of the students and school district to the citizens, taxpayers and parents of the community“
- NJSBA FAQ,
Why me?
Simply put, I want nothing short of what’s best for our kids. Not by opinion, but by data; data that includes the voice of our community.
My links
Additional resources
Piorities, proudly subject to change
Diverse learner support
Curriculum
Technology
Diversity
Budget
Parent education
Community connection
Skilled areas
Advocacy and leadership
Budget management
Change management
Communications
Data and analysis
Financial management
Project management
Research and training
Strategy development and execution
A little more about me
In my corporate career I regularly demonstrated advocacy by identifying areas of opportunity in our data, designing the solutions and strategy to address it, gaining the support needed to execute solutions, and monitoring progress to ensure success. I’ve led large-scale projects, managed budgets, and understand how to look at a process to determine outliers…. and do something about it. As a testiment to that commitment, I currently hold a 3-year position on the American Psychology Association’s national ethics committee.
But more importantly, I have a lifetime of experiences that remind me both how vulnerable our children are, and how much more we can do to meet their unique needs and help them grow. Study after study only deepends our understanding of how important these formidable years truly are.
In my personal life, I am a diverse learner, as are most of my children. I’ve seen the difference it makes for a child when the right support is provided and I want to be a part of ensuring the right support is received for all of our children.
Mental health and neurodiversity are passions of mine; I started a company, Spectrums are Pretty, that sells merchandise and attire in support of mental health acceptance. I had a booth at last year’s Scotch Plains Mental Health Fair and Pride event, pictured above.
I am thrilled to have found a place where my skills and my passions meet.
My priorities are shaped by data and those I represent. Tell me what’s on your mind.