New superintendent returns home to lead Alamo Navajo Community School

For Marvin Martin, education has never just been a career—it’s been a lifelong calling rooted in rural communities, agriculture and a deep belief in the potential of students.

Now serving as superintendent of Alamo Navajo Community School, Martin is stepping into the role with decades of experience and a strong personal connection to the area.

“I’ve always considered this home,” Martin said. “It’s where my children were raised, and it’s really good to be back.”

Martin’s journey in education began in the classroom, teaching agriculture and coaching in communities across New Mexico. His first teaching position was in Zuni, where he spent eight years building agricultural programs and helping students explore everything from animal science to welding and woodworking.

“Agriculture classes can cover a wide range of skills,” he said. “From horticulture to mechanics to showing animals—it gives students real, hands-on opportunities.”

After Zuni, Martin came to Alamo for the first time in the mid-1990s, teaching agriculture and driver’s education. He later moved to Magdalena, where he taught special education and helped revive the school’s football program after a decade-long absence.

“We hadn’t had football for 10 years,” he said. “We were able to bring it back, and that meant a lot to the community.”

Over the years, Martin transitioned into administration, including serving as superintendent in Hondo Valley for nine years. He also held administrative roles in Socorro and spent time back in his hometown of Clayton before ultimately returning to the Magdalena-Alamo area as superintendent.

Despite time away, Martin said he never lost his connection to the region.

“I know a lot of the families here,” he said. “I taught some of the parents of the students we have now. That background helps—it gives you a better understanding of where kids are coming from.”

Now in his new role, Martin is focused on strengthening the foundation of student success.

“Ultimately, we want to see reading and writing scores improve,” he said. “That’s the base for everything.”

While long-term goals are still being developed in collaboration with the school board, Martin sees significant potential in the Alamo community and its students.

Part of that opportunity lies in expanding and strengthening vocational and extracurricular programs—areas Martin has long championed. He credits agriculture education, athletics and organizations like FFA with teaching students valuable life skills.

“Sports and ag programs teach you how to work hard, how to deal with challenges and even how to lose with grace,” he said. “Those are lessons that carry over into life.”

Martin’s own path into education was shaped by those experiences. Growing up in northeastern New Mexico, he worked on ranches and was influenced by strong agricultural educators who inspired him to follow a similar path.

“I went to school for sports and FFA,” he said. “That’s what I wanted to do with my life.”

Today, he still holds a deep respect for agricultural communities.

“You won’t meet better people than farmers and ranchers,” he said. “They’re close to the land, and that teaches responsibility in a way that’s hard to replicate.”

As superintendent, Martin said he remains committed to those values, even if his administrative responsibilities limit his time in the classroom or on the field. He did, however, coach junior high football as recently as last fall.

“I still care about those programs,” he said. “They’re important.”

Martin is also calling on the broader community to help support the school’s future. The district is currently seeking to fill several key positions, including an elementary teacher and a vocational instructor specializing in welding and woodworking.

“We’re looking for people who want to be part of this community,” he said.

Outside of work, Martin’s life continues to center around family. He and his wife, Katie—a longtime elementary principal in Magdalena—have been married for 42 years. Together, they have four children and 10 grandchildren, with family spread across New Mexico and beyond.

Even with a full career behind him, Martin shows no signs of slowing down.

“I’ve been in school since I was five years old,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just what I do.”

As he begins this new chapter, Martin says he’s grateful for the opportunity to give back to a community that has long been part of his life.

“I really like the people here—the students, the families,” he said. “I’m thankful to be here, and I’m excited about what we can do.”