Frieda Martinez is a life skills teacher who also works with medically fragile students. She has worked for SFPS for 13 years. “I love it,” she said.

Ms. Martinez said she became a life skills teacher because she wanted to inspire students and help them reach their full potential. Her goal is to always “motivate and help them reach their goals.”

Originally from Truchas, New Mexico, Ms. Martinez has lived in Santa Fe for 33 years. She studied to be a court reporter for two years at the Business College of Santa Fe before starting a family. She worked as a paraprofessional in 2006 for a kindergarten class at Nava Elementary before moving over to the high school.

What she enjoys most about her job is working with kids and showing them how to be good role models. She hopes she can be an inspiration to students.

Ms. Martinez has many interests. “I love drawing, listening to music, and spending time with my family,” she said, adding that she has three kids and four grandchildren. One of her sons currently attends SFHS.