The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Board of Directors elected Raquel Martinez, principal of Isaac Stevens Middle School in Pasco, WA, as their new president-elect. She will succeed Aaron Huff, principal of Benjamin Bosse High School in Evansville, IN, in 2024 and lead NASSP as the organization’s first Latina president.

Martinez is in her fifth year as principal of Stevens. Previously, she served as the interim principal for one year and assistant principal for three years in the same building. Martinez also taught biology at Pasco High School for nearly 10 years. During her final year at Pasco High School, she held the Bilingual Facilitator position. As a member of the NASSP Board of Directors, she has served on the Advocacy and Governance Committees. Currently, Martinez chairs the Governance Committee, leading efforts to revise board policies to better serve student and school leader members.

“I am blessed and humbled by this opportunity to serve our school and student leaders as NASSP’s president-elect,” said NASSP President-Elect Raquel Martinez. “As someone who has worked in education for 17 years, NASSP’s mission to transform education through leadership resonates with me on a deeply personal level. I will work tirelessly as a voice for my fellow principals and advocate for our students.”

“Raquel is a visionary and collaborative leader with a proven track record of developing those same qualities in others,” said NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe. “We know she has the experience, character and passion needed to advocate for an equitable system that works for all students and educators. I look forward to her leadership and our continued work together.”

NASSP is seeking five additional board members to support its mission: to cultivate a generation of courageous school and student leaders to reimagine and rebuild an education system that meets every student’s needs by providing equitable access and opportunity. Current NASSP members serving as school leaders are eligible and can complete their nominations starting February 14, 2023 at www.nassp.org/nominations.

For a complete roster of the NASSP Board of Directors, please visit www.nassp.org/board.