I have been lucky enough to live in a number of places in my lifetime. I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the shadows of the University of Michigan campus. I graduated from Pioneer High School, with famous alums Ken Burns and Bob Segar to name a couple. I then moved on to a year in southern Vermont. I began attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst the following year to pursue a degree in anthropology with a focus in historical archaeology. I participated in an archaeological dig in historic Deerfield, Massachusetts, and lived in Ireland while I studied at Trinity College in Dublin. Those are a few of my fondest memories from my time in college. After I graduated, I moved to Boston to work in sales for a construction company. I lived a block from Fenway Park, which was hard to leave, but... I realized after a big snowstorm on April Fool's Day that my entire life was spent battling the winters of Michigan or New England... It was time to move west. I moved to San Diego in the summer of 1997. I began to pursue my interests in SCUBA, where I worked as an instructor for a short period of time before being hired by SAIC as an animal trainer for the US Navy's marine mammal program.
Coming from a family of educators, it was a natural step for me to become a teacher. I decided to go back to school and earn my teaching credential in History and a Master's Degree in Education. I worked at Madison High School in Clairemont, where I taught Social Studies, including AP U.S. History and Introduction to Web Design. I coached freshman football and helped out with various other sports. I moved into the Dean of Students role at the high school. My next stop was La Jolla High School, where I served as the Vice Principal for two and a half years. I saw the opening at Pershing as a great next step and an incredible opportunity to be a part of a great community.
I have been very lucky to establish incredible professional relationships at the different schools that I have worked at, as well as many lifelong friendships. I know that trend will continue here at Pershing!
"I am a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love" - Eddie Vedder
The first two are my wife and daughter, Ann and Allison. Although she is my only child, she keeps me going in so many directions. Ann and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary last April. The three of us can be found at the beach, playing whatever sport that Allison is into for the moment, or checking out a new restaurant in town. We spend as much time with our families in the Washington D.C. area and Portland, Oregon as possible.
I look forward to what lies ahead. Pershing has been a very welcoming place.
I am Patience Martin, and I am excited to serve the Pershing Middle School community for my second year as an Associate Principal. Originally from Iowa, I have called San Diego home since 2013.
I attended the University of Northern Iowa, where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology, a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in K-12 School Counseling. My educational background led me to a wide range of professional experiences, including working as a family therapist for juvenile delinquents, a classroom support worker for students with disabilities, a substance abuse counselor, a school counselor, a social worker, and a manager of social services for a health insurance company.
When I moved to San Diego, I never imagined that I would return to education, but life has a way of leading us to where we are meant to be. I am incredibly grateful for the path that brought me to the San Diego Unified School District. I began my journey as a District Resource Counselor, supporting TK-8 and Middle School Counselors across the district, before serving as a counselor in the Nonpublic School Department. Prior to joining Pershing Middle School, I was a shared Associate Principal at Audubon TK-8 and Bethune TK-8. The experiences I have gained and the relationships I have built throughout my time with SDUSD have been instrumental in my growth as both an educator and a leader. I look forward to continuing that growth alongside the Pershing community.
My family is my greatest source of inspiration and motivation. I am married to my husband, Antar, and together we share two wonderful children. My stepson, Alex, is a sophomore, and my son, Emeric, is four years old. As a family, we enjoy spending time outdoors, taking advantage of San Diego’s beautiful weather, traveling, and attending live music events. We also cherish every opportunity to visit our families back in the Midwest.
I am thrilled to continue working alongside our staff, students, and families, and I look forward to another outstanding year at Pershing Middle School!