The following story and all images are from a submission from SMMUSD.
Santa Monica High School (Samohi) math teacher Jasson Martinez has come full circle, returning to the campus where he once studied as a student, now standing at the front of the classroom to inspire the next generation.
Martinez, a proud member of Samohi’s class of 2019, is deeply rooted in SMMUSD. He began at McKinley Elementary, continued at Lincoln Middle School, and completed his journey as a student at Samohi, where he now teaches.
Martinez earned his undergraduate degree and teaching credential at California State University, Long Beach. His path into education was shaped by his experiences at Samohi, where supportive teachers and peers
influenced his decision to pursue a career in the classroom.
“My goal as a senior in high school was to come back, no matter what it takes,” said Martinez. “Everyone always asked me what my dream school was and I would not have a school in mind, but my answer was always, ‘I’m not sure but I know I want to teach at my old high school at least.’”
Martinez traces his decision to teach back to a pivotal moment at Samohi, when one classroom encounter shifted how he saw himself and his future.
“It wasn’t until I took Algebra 2 in summer school, where I met the teacher who gave me the possibility of becoming an educator, that is Mr. Veral,” said Martinez. “Mr. Veral was my first math teacher who was a male identifying Latino and to me, this was a sign that Latinos can do it. It showed me that I can also have a purpose in the place I didn’t expect.”
Currently, Martinez teaches Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 to freshmen and juniors at Samohi, creating a learning environment where students feel supported and seen.
“I love creating an environment where students feel welcome, are able to feel comfortable being themselves, and supporting all students by changing the mindset of, ‘when will I need this math in my life?’ and changing it to show that math is all around us, regardless of what we do,” he said.
He credits his own time in SMMUSD as a guiding influence in his decision to return.
“Some things would include coming and going to school alone from a different city, having immigrant parents, and busy schedules due to outside factors,” said Martinez. “Being able to know friends and other
students who went through the same experiences helped me feel more at ease. The teachers who understood and supported us were amazing, and that’s what I want to do at Samohi.”
Martinez is intentional about living the District’s mission of extraordinary achievements for all students while simultaneously closing the achievement gap, along with its values of belonging, curiosity and empowerment.
Antonio Shelton at graduation in 2019
“As a teacher, I want to be able to support my students in any way possible,” said Martinez. “I am already in support of three Latino-based clubs that meet in my classroom as I want students to show their belonging in the school. The curiosity comes with me learning more about the students that come in, and the different cultures I will encounter. Finally, I want to foster empowerment by allowing students to make connections and mistakes in my classroom.”
For Martinez, one of his greatest accomplishments has been earning his degree and stepping into the classroom as an educator.
“I am the first Latino in my family to have achieved a college degree, being raised by immigrant parents, this was a huge accomplishment for us, as this was the goal,” said Martinez. “My parents wanted to show that Latinos can do it, and given their circumstances, to show that we can’t and won’t be stopped anytime soon.”
Outside the classroom, Martinez enjoys spending time with his family, girlfriend and dogs, who bring him joy at the end of a busy day.
From student to teacher, Martinez’s story highlights the power of community and the impact of returning home to give back. His journey reflects SMMUSD’s mission and values, demonstrating how belonging, curiosity and empowerment can inspire students to achieve extraordinary outcomes of their own.
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