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Mr. Martinek has been teaching in Chicago Public Schools since August of 2000 and has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2005. Holding an Illinois Master Professional Educator License covering Social Studies instruction for grades 6 through 12 with an English Language Arts endorsement has allowed Mr. Martinek the opportunity to teach numerous subjects: U.S. History, World Studies, Reading Workshop, Latin American History, Contemporary American History, Law in American Society, Business Law, AVID I, Freshman Seminar, Human Geography, Global Citizenship Initiative Civics/Personal Finance, AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP Comparative Government and Politics, and AP Human Geography. More recently, Mr. Martinek's instructional focus has been on Honors Civics and Honors Global Issues. In the classroom his primary focal points are reading and deliberating controversial issues. Ultimately, Mr. Martinek's students will be able to evaluate varied information to form their own opinion or argument and advance understanding of the issue for the whole class. Students in Mr. Martinek's classes are also encouraged to apply what they learn in the classroom to experiences outside of school. Students will have the opportunity to additionally practice these skills through after school activities, such as the Student Voice Committee/Student Council, designed to amplify and promote student voices concerning critical issues. Mr. Martinek also supports the Global Citizen Model United Nations Team as well as the Dungeons and Dragons club. As well as sponsoring these activities, Mr. Martinek currently serves as a sponsor of the Association of Chicago Student Councils. Additionally, Mr. Martinek has helped the district with performance task and curriculum development. In 2011 he was a fellow for the Yale National Initiative and continues to support development of a local teacher institute based upon the YNI model. Mr. Martinek completed a bachelor degree in Secondary Social Studies Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the year 2000. He has completed masters degrees in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University as well as Special Education through Western Governors University and an English as a Second Language endorsement program by Northeastern Illinois University. He has also dabbled in journalism and writing for publication. Mr. Martinek is a firm believer in developing strong community partnerships in order to provide students with a larger world view and experience beyond the classroom.
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP TEAM / MODEL UNITED NATIONS
STUDENT VOICE / STUDENT COUNCIL