Karen Martin Teaches Math at JCMS

Karen Martin, seventh grade math teacher at Jasper County Middle School, estimates that in her 10 years of teaching she has taught over 1,000 students. Prior to this year, she taught social studies in middle school.

After graduating from high school in her hometown of Columbus, Mrs. Martin worked as an office manager for some 10 years. Thirteen years ago, she decided to attend Columbus State and attain a teaching degree with an associate degree in computer programming.

This summer preparing for her new math teaching assignment, she attended the Smart Institute at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. The two weeks of courses that she attended there were provided through a federal grant.

The purpose of the courses is to help teachers prepare students for future jobs. Martin and her fellow teachers took a field trip to Georgia Tech where they visited research labs studying nano technology, small computers and artificially grown bones.

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In August she attended training sessions at Jasper County High School where teachers from all grade levels learned about teaching technology and preparing lesson plans. This year math classes will have a blog over the internet where students can discuss homework, ideas and what is going on within the school system.

Also this summer, Mrs. Martin attended the Jasper County school system camp for gifted primary and middle school students. The main objective of the camp was to learn how to help gifted students and to allow 20 teachers in the Jasper County school system to get official gifted teacher certificates.

Mrs. Martin found Jasper County after applying to several school systems; she likes the small town atmosphere.

She is married to Richard Martin and between them they have a blended family. She has two daughters, Katherine and Jacqueline Andrews, from a previous marriage and Richard has three children, Rick, Nathan, and Loren Martin from a previous marriage. And Karen and Richard have a daughter together from this marriage. They are a local Brady Bunch.

As a family, they took a week long vacation to nearby Hard Labor Creek State Park this past summer. While relaxing in cabins, they also got a chance to enjoy boating, swimming and fishing and being with each other.

Mrs. Martin has several interesting hobbies including reading science fiction and mystery novels, hand quilting and genealogy.

She has inspired many students over her 10-year career. Good luck this year as she continues to guide our students for the future.