MARTINEZ, Calif. – The Martinez Unified School District hired Yadira Zapata to fill the vacant position of Assistant Principal at Martinez Junior High School at a special July 17 board meeting.
Zapata, who was serving as Vice Principal at Benicia High School, topped 46 applicants for the job. Her past work experience with MUSD may also have helped. Zapata taught at Alhambra High School from 2014 to 2018 before transitioning to Benicia. Superintendent CJ Carmack reported that she demonstrated strong leadership skills then, serving as a leader for WASC, writing grants, serving on School Site Council, ELAC and was the Club Advisor for the Latino Unidos and the Spend LIfe Actively Clubs.
Zapata’s career began at Pittsburg Unified School District, where she taught Spanish, Leadership, and was the Coordinator for Link Crew (program develops student leaders, positive school climate and student sense of belonging).
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature with a minor in Latin American and Hemispheric Students from the University of California, Davis, and received a Master of Arts in Teaching from St. Mary’s College, where she graduated with honors.
Stacey Joslin, the district’s new Director of Personnel services related Yadira Zapata’s reaction to being back in Martinez: “It is like “coming home,” and she is thrilled to have the chance to be a part of MUSD again and serve the staff and students of MJHS. Please join me in welcoming Yadira to MJHS and welcoming her back home to MUSD.”
At the same meeting, Joslin presented the board the staff recommendation to create a new position for someone who will facilitate efforts to bring MUSD students who have not yet scored at a specific proficiency level on the state mandated standardized assessments up to those specific levels.
The district has been attempting to costs, but there is some one-time funding from California State funding available which will help pay the new salary. That money must be used exclusively to support students that have not scored at a specific proficiency level during the 19-20 and 20-21 school years.
The new employee will lead collaboration with teachers and administrators to create common assessments (diagnostic tests) both “formative and summative,” to help identify students who may benefit from early interventions and share educational best practices when high levels of success is observed.
Initially, the work will be focused on elementary level students.
