Candidate Profile: Martina Lemond Dixon
Incumbent Candidate for Position 5
Bio
MARTINA LEMOND DIXON is a third generation Houstonian and has lived in Kingwood for 21 years. Martina has a BA in Communications from Auburn University, and a Post Baccalaureate in Construction Management and a MA in Education from LSU.
Family
She and her husband, Scott, have four children, Cassidy, a graduate of Howard University in DC, and Humble HS's IB Program, Alec, a junior at The University of Alabama and a graduate of Humble HS's IB Program, Sydney, a senior at Kingwood Park HS, and Ian, a sophomore at Kingwood HS. As an interfaith family, the Dixon’s are members of St. Martha Catholic Church in Kingwood and Lakewood Church in Houston.
Humble ISD School Board
Currently, Martina serves on the Humble ISD School Board as Board Vice President. She has served as Board Secretary and Parliamentarian, and on the following committees, Building and Planning, Finance, Board and Superintendent Evaluation, Audit, and Advocacy. She is a Board Trustee for TASB’s (Texas Association of School Board’s) Lone Star Investment Pool, is a TASB Delegate, and holds Master Trustee designation as a Leadership TASB graduate. Martina attended NSBA’s (National School Board Association’s) Advocacy Institute in Washington DC in 2019 and 2020.
HCAD Board of Directors
Martina, also, serves as the Assistant Secretary on the Harris County Appraisal District Board of Directors. In this role, she represents 24 school districts in Harris County and four community college systems.
Serving Humble ISD Prior to Board Service
When it comes to serving the district, Martina has worn many hats. She has served on the Executive Board of the Humble ISD Education Foundation as the Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair, and on the Grant Review Committee. She was a member of the district’s Dream Team Education Task Force, which is the group who set the community-wide vision for the Portrait of a Graduate. Other roles have included, the Executive Board for the Humble ISD Council of PTA's, a Delegate for the Humble ISD Council of PTA’s, the PTA Council Scholarship Chair, the Greentree Elementary PTA Board as the Legislative Chair, she headed the planning committee to reinstate the PTSA at Humble HS in 2012-13, and then became the Humble High School PTSA President, a greeter at Creekwood Middle School, participated in the Grant Prize Posse, attended Rally Day in Austin twice to discuss education issues with our State Senators and State Representatives on behalf of the Humble ISD Council of PTA’s, and much more.
American Community School of Abu Dhabi School Board
For four years, the Dixon family lived abroad in Abu Dhabi, UAE, while maintaining their residence in Kingwood. During this time, Martina was elected to the Board of Trustees at the American Community School of Abu Dhabi, which is affiliated with the U.S. State Department. While on the school board, Martina served as Board Secretary, Curriculum Chair, and Communications Chair. For school board leadership training, Martina attended NESA Leadership Conferences with the U.S. Office of Overseas Schools in Amman, Jordan, and in Athens, Greece.
Educator
Martina has 13 years teaching experience, eight of which were at North Shore High School in Galena Park ISD, where she attended high school. During her tenure at NSHS, she served on the site-based decision-making committee, and she twice received the highly coveted Diamond Award, where students in the Top 5% in the district select one teacher who made the greatest impact on their life. Her teaching experience, also, includes Spring ISD, Houston ISD, and Dekalb County Schools.
Community
In the community, Martina is a member of the Humble-Kingwood Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., was the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class President in 2013-2014, and was a board member at the Lake Houston Family YMCA from 2017-2021.
Q & A
What inspired you to run for re-election for Board Trustee? On that note, what are you hoping to accomplish if re-elected to the Board of Trustees?
Education has always been a priority to me. Everything I have done professionally and personally has been in the realm of education, and I have always considered myself a lifelong learner. Prior to school board service, I was extremely involved in serving Humble ISD. I served on the Humble ISD Education Foundation Board as the Finance Chair and Treasurer, PTA Boards as Legislative Delegate and PTA President, the PTA Council Executive Board, PTA Scholarship Chair, and more. Since I have been on the school board my passion for education and Humble ISD is stronger than ever. I represent the 24 school districts in Harris County and the four community colleges on the HCAD Board of Directors (Harris County Appraisal District) where I was recently voted Assistant Secretary for the board, I earned the Master Trustee designation in Leadership TASB (Texas Association of School Boards), this is my second year as the TASB Delegate for Humble ISD, I am on the Executive Board Secretary on the (TCBSBM) Texas Caucus for Black School Board Members, I am a member of the National School Board Association (NSBA), and I attended NSBA’s Advocacy Institute in Washington DC to advocate for the needs of the district. In Humble ISD, I currently serve on the Board Building and Planning Committee, Finance Committee, and as the Chair of the Board and Superintendent Evaluation Committee. In addition, having other board experience, holding significant officer positions in finance, having a post baccalaureate in construction management, a M.A. in education, and holding principal certification has allowed me to be extremely prepared for board service.
If re-elected I would continue to make excellent curriculum and equitable facilities a priority, offer opportunities for the community to learn more about the role of the school board, continue to expand the support for special needs and 504 students, continue to advocate for the district locally, statewide, and nationally, and I would like to engage stakeholders in the diversity, equity, and inclusion conversation to be sure we capture the successes and concerns of students, parents, teachers, staff, administration, and the community.
How will you advocate for teachers and staff within Humble ISD? In your opinion, what is important to the teachers and staff within Humble ISD?
As an educator, I naturally keep teachers and staff in mind with all decisions I make as a school board trustee. Areas of importance to teachers and staff include: a safe and secure working environment, having the resources necessary to do their best work, excellent professional development and training opportunities, trust and reasonable autonomy in their role, competitive pay, and they want us (the board and administration) to celebrate their successes and genuinely hear their concerns.
Tell us your thoughts on how Humble ISD has handled virtual learning, and ideas for virtual learning going forward?
Last spring, when we were hit with Covid-19 and could not return to school, we needed to act fast, so we allowed campuses a lot of autonomy to decide the best way for teachers to teach students virtually. We issued devices to students that needed them and were flexible on grading, only allowing grades to improve a student’s average. Nationwide, school districts struggled with the best path forward, but I do believe we handled the situation as best we could. There were several lessons learned, which led to major preparation over the summer to be ready for the fall. The administration is working diligently to perfect our virtual learning model, because it is an option we hope to keep permanently.
Other than virtual learning, tell us your thoughts about Humble ISD and the handling of COVID-19, both for teachers and students.
In a district the size and makeup of Humble ISD there is no one-size fits all, rather it is important to offer options and flexibility. Parents throughout the district are able to make decisions which are best for their family and their family’s health concerns. Even with my own children, we have done online with UIL and the face-to-face option, and I am thankful to be given three options to find what works best for my children. As for teachers, it is a bit more complicated, because we cannot offer as many options as we can for students. However, we strive to make sure teachers have the resources and supplies they need in order to feel as comfortable as possible.
As you look at Humble ISD, are there areas where funds are overspent? What areas would you look at to reduce expenses?
Fiduciary knowledge is the most important role as a school board member. It is extremely important that we are fiscally responsible. Humble ISD has managed the budget and bond funds in a way that works best to fit the district’s needs. We have recognized savings which we were able to allocate to other priorities, and when were hit by Hurricane Harvey we had the funds on hand to get started with remediation without having to wait for the insurance company. The two areas where I wish we could increase spending are teacher and staff pay and to expand the International Baccalaureate program at Humble High School. I have two children who graduated from HHS’s IB program, so I know how well-prepared my children were for college. Also, I invite you to view our FIRST rating (Financial Rating System of Texas), where we have maintained a Superior Rating for the last four years. https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us/First/forms/Main.aspx
During several Board meetings, students and parents have brought up topics around diversity and inclusion. What can Humble ISD do to ensure it is welcoming to students of all backgrounds?
As the Chair of the Board and Superintendent Evaluation Committee, we began the discussion around diversity, equity, and inclusion, last June. To address this topic properly, we must start with its foundation, so we are in the process of writing a new district vision and mission statement. Once this is complete, and the full board is in place after the election, we will move forward with the initiative.
Humble ISD has several Title I campuses. How do we ensure that those campuses have the resources needed?
Our district does an excellent job serving our Title I campuses. We make equity regarding resources and facilities a district-wide priority. I am especially excited about the rebuild of two of our older Title I elementary campuses, Lakeland Elementary and North Belt Elementary.
Closing thoughts? Anything you would like to add that we didn’t ask? What can people do (or where can they go) to learn more about you?
Thank you so much to all the district stakeholders who took the time to submit questions. I appreciate that so many are engaged in the educational process of Humble ISD. As a long-time parent and volunteer in the district, I understand, we all want the same thing for our children, an excellent education in a safe and welcoming environment.
Website: www.voteformartina.com
Email: voteformartina@gmail.com
FB: Martina Lemond Dixon Supporters
Twitter: @martina_dixon17
All the content above was provided by the candidate and is not necessarily the opinion of the administrators of Humble ISD Parents. Other than formatting, we have not made any edits.
Thank you for your candid responses.
If you have received any endorsements, who did they come from?