Dr. Elda Martinez

Dr. Elda E. Martinez is the Teacher Education Department Director and Professor. In her role as Department Director, she led three state reaccreditation reviews and the inaugural national accreditation review. Dr. Martinez is a recognized teacher-educator and is actively involved in state and national professional organizations.

Dr. Martinez has ten years of experience as an elementary and special education teacher in the San Antonio ISD. She earned her doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition to authoring various articles, Dr. Martinez collaborated with the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education to establish a state journal, TxEP: Texas Educator Preparation and served as the Managing Editor for five years. She has been a member of the Winston School of San Antonio’s Education, Medical, and Scientific Advisory Committee since 2010. Dr. Martinez has been a member of the AAQEP Accreditation Commission since 2023.

Ed.D., Organizational Leadership
Specialization: Educational Administration
Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, New York

M.A.T.
Specializations: Elementary Education & Special Education
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas

B.A., Humanities
Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas

Texas Teaching Certification:

• Elementary Self-Contained 1-8
• Special Education PK-12
• Elementary English 1-6
• Elementary History 1-6

• Teacher Education Department Director, University of the Incarnate Word, 2005-Present

• Adjunct/Visiting Professor, Trinity University, 2002-2005

• Special Education Teacher, San Antonio ISD, 1996-2005

• General Education Teacher, San Antonio ISD, 1995-1996

Teaching Students with Learning Differences 

Survey of Learning Disabilities  

Clinical Teaching 

Recent Publications:

Martinez E., Hernandez, A., & Staudt, D. (2023). Let’s talk about technology in teacher preparation. Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference. [Conference Proceedings] https://www.learntechlib.org/j/SITE/v/2023/n/1/

Martinez, E. (Primary Author) (2022). TEA Continuing Accreditation Report. Texas Education Agency. [Continuing State Accreditation Review]

Martinez, E. (Managing Editor) (2021). TxEP: Texas Educator Preparation. Volume 5. Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education. https://www.csotte.com/txep

Martinez, E. (Primary Author) (2021). AAQEP Quality Assurance Report. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation. [Initial National Accreditation Report]

Recent Presentations:

Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education: 2024 Fall
Teacher Education Conference
UIW Teacher Network: Supporting and Retaining New Teachers
Co-Presenter: Dr. Denise Staudt, University of the Incarnate Word
San Marcos, TX (October 2024)

Texas Association for Teacher Educators: TxATE 2023 Summer Conference
Data Storytelling: Telling a Great Story with Data
Co-Presenter: Dr. Denise Staudt, University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX (June 2023) 

Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education
Let’s Talk About Technology in Teacher Preparation
Co-Presenters: Dr. Denise Staudt & Dr. Arthur Hernandez, University of the Incarnate Word
New Orleans, LA (March 2023) 

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): Quality Assurance Symposium
Data Storytelling: Giving Voice to Your Data
Co-Presenter: Dr. Denise Staudt, University of the Incarnate Word
Indianapolis, IN (February 2023) 

External Grants:

Charles Butt Foundation, 2023
Raising Texas Teachers Partner Application 

Elva Knight Research Grant, International Literacy Association, 2018 
Web Literacy Instruction and Technology Integration 

Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation, 2017 
Raising Texas Teachers Emerging Partner Application

UIW Grants:

Faculty Led Study Abroad Grant, 2013
Exceptional Learners

Faculty Endowment Research Award, 2011-2012
Neuroscience and the Classroom: Preparing Teachers to Support Instruction through Brain-Based Practices

Faculty Graduate Research Assistant Award, 2011-2012
LEAD Teams: The Impact of Formative Assessment on Instructional Practice

Leadership Roles:

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) 
Accreditation Commissioner, 2023-2027

Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE) 
Ex-Officio Board Member, Conference Technology Liaison, 2022-Present 

Associate and Assistant Deans and Directors of Texas (ADoT)
Technology Officer, 2023-Present

Texas Directors of Field Experience (TDFE)
Student Teacher of the Year Committee Chair, 2014

Texas Association of Teacher Educators (TxATE)
President, 2011-2012
Vice President, 2010-2011

Association of Teacher Educators (ATE)
ATE Council of Unit Presidents, 2012

Active Memberships:

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), 2019-Present
Associate and Assistant Deans and Directors of Texas (ADoT), 2018-Present
Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA), 2019-Present
Texas Association of Certification Officers (TACO), 2005-Present
Texas Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (TACTE), 2005-Present
Texas Coordinators for Teacher Certification Testing (TCTCT), 2005-Present
Texas Directors of Field Experiences (TDFE), 2005-Present
Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education (KDP), 1995-Present

Robert J. Connelly Faculty Leadership Award, 2024
University of the Incarnate Word

Minnie Stevens Piper Professor-UIW Nominee, 2024
University of the Incarnate Word

General Robert McDermott Chair in Leadership, 2017-2021
Dreeben School of Education, University of the Incarnate Word

Moody Professor of Education, 2015-2016
University of the Incarnate Word

Ben E. Coody Distinguished Service Award, 2015
Texas Association of Teacher Educators

Sister Theophane Power Endowed Chair in Education, 2011-2014
Dreeben School of Education, University of the Incarnate Word

Trinity Award for Excellence in Special Education, 2001-2002
Trinity University

Service to the Profession:

Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) 
Quality Review Team Member, 2022-Present

The Texas Forum of Teacher Education
Journal Copy Editor, 2013-2018 & 2020-2021

Service to the Community:

Winston School San Antonio
Education, Medical, Scientific Advisory Committee (EMSAC), 2010-Present

BALLER Camps
Board of Directors, 2012-2021

San Antonio Children’s Museum
Board of Directors, 2007-2011
Vice-President of Education, 2010-2011

Service to the University (2021-Present):

Faculty Affairs, Chair 2023-2025
Faculty Senate, 2023-2025
Senate Executive Committee, 2023-2025
First-Gen Committee, 2023-Present
Title V UIW FLIGHT Faculty Advisory Board, 2022-Present
Teacher Education Advisory Board Chair, 2021-Present
Faculty Affairs, Member 2020-2023