On Monday, December 9, Commissioner Michael Williams named Monica Martinez as Associate Commissioner for Standards & Programs for the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Ms. Martinez replaces Anita Givens, a well-regarded veteran TEA administrator who was particularly recognized for her leadership in state educational technology policies and practices during the past quarter century.
The TEA Standards & Programs Department includes Curriculum Division, the Instructional Materials & Educational Technology Division, and the Federal & State Education Policy.
Ms. Martinez was named the interim associate commissioner after Ms. Givens’ retirement on August 31. Since joining TEA almost a decade ago, Ms. Martinez has held various positions including curriculum director, policy director, and, most recently, managing director within the Standards & Programs Department. With the promotion of Ms. Martinez, the Curriculum Division Managing Director position is vacant.
Ms. Martinez is particularly recognized and often praised for her work with internal staff and external stakeholders on a myriad of initiatives related to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), and other standards/curriculum policies. Her particular strengths are on display whenever she appears before legislative committees and during meetings of the State Board of Education.
Martinez holds an undergraduate degree from Brown University and an MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.