Dennis Martin ’21
Dennis Martin ‘21: Centering Everything Around the Kids
“I wanted to become a teacher because I valued what teachers did,” – Dennis Martin ‘21
Today, as a special education kindergarten teacher at Kipp Spark Academy in the Central Ward of Newark, the Caldwell alumnus strives to take the values he learned in the University’s education program to his students, providing structure, consistency and love, essential elements in classroom management for 4- and 5-year-olds.
“Everything is centered around the kids—making sure they are in school, making sure they want to learn” and coming up with “investment systems” to motivate them, said Martin. Not an easy task when the classroom is filled with an age group sure to show a lot of different emotions during a half-hour, let alone a day. And Martin, who earned a bachelor’s degree in education and history along with a special education certification, is up for the challenge, excited to be teaching at Spark, a charter school known for preparing its students for college from the day they enter kindergarten.
Born and raised in Newark, Martin looks at his students and understands what many of them are going through and why some view their school as a second home. When Martin was a child, his family “did a little house hopping because of finances,” and he attended a number of schools. He, like his students, had an individualized education plan (IEP) which aims to make sure students with special needs receive specialized instruction and services. Martin was lucky; his mom found “the best child study teams to make sure I was set up for success,” he said. His parents sought out people who were good at “pushing the process” so their son could succeed. “I know there are a lot of families that go through struggles with finances, with language barriers.” Many parents don’t feel supported, and their kids feel those emotions, said Martin. Knowing how tough it can be, he strives to show his students and their parents compassion, support and joy. For instance, he recently posted this announcement: “We just had 100 percent attendance today, and if we keep it up we are going to throw a party!”
When Martin started thinking about colleges, he believed public institutions and community colleges were his only options. Then one day, while riding on New Jersey Transit Bus 29 on Bloomfield Avenue, he noticed Caldwell University. “I’m like, ‘I should apply. I am going to check it out because it is very close to home,’ even though I knew it was a private college,” said Martin. His family’s sentiment was “Dennis, there’s no way.” But he heard about the Educational Opportunity Fund program, went to Instant Decision Day and met faculty from the School of Education. “I figured I would put in my application and see where it goes.” Before he knew it, he was a freshman at Caldwell University, taking his studies very seriously and becoming involved in campus activities.
Now that he is teaching, Martin appreciates seeing how his very focused academics at Caldwell are playing out in the classroom. He is grateful that his university emphasized the need to pass the Praxis to graduate. That “was a big one … it set me up where I’m in a safe spot,” said Martin. Caldwell’s training in lesson planning and focus on getting students engaged was also very thorough. He appreciated the faculty support systems, remembering Dr. Delvecchio, “the queen of knowing how to teach teachers to teach English,” and Professor Hayes, who knew what to do to teach future teachers to teach math. “The History Department was amazing … I had the best of the best behind me … Dr. Mullaney, Dr. Barnhart, Dr. Lammers. Even my family tells me, ‘You really went to the best school.’”
Martin aims to encourage other young people to pursue their goals, especially when it seems there are big obstacles to surmount. “When people decide what they are going to do with their lives, as long as they have a plan and some type of discipline and structure, that makes me happy.” Then he knows “they will be all right.” And this is a pattern he shares with the little ones in his classroom. “If kids are happy, then that happiness is already the fuel engine for what they will aspire to be.”
Martin’s philosophy also extends to how he wants to interact with his colleagues—the other teachers. “Showing love through the hard work you put in has always been the foundation behind what I do.” In the end he believes everyone benefits. “I think schools always need love.”