In its ninth year, this award was created to honor an FCPS employee who has served our nation in the armed forces and provided exemplary service to FCPS and the community. Woodsboro Bank sponsors the annual Veteran in Education Award.
A committee of FCPS staff, community members and veterans reviewed this year’s eight nominations and chose the recipient. Martell was surprised with the news of being named this year’s Veteran in Education Award recipient by school and system leaders on November 12.
“Ms. Martell bravely served our country before supporting the Gov. Thomas Johnson High community in so many ways,” FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson said. “We are appreciative of all she does for students and the community.”
Martell, a retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant, broke barriers for women in the military through her leadership and perseverance. She served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004–2005) and later became the first female commander of AMVETS Post 2.
While serving in the Army National Guard and working full time, she earned her college degree in 1994 and later completed her Master’s Equivalent in 2007 despite multiple interruptions for deployments and family responsibilities. Martell has also faced and helped others cope with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), exemplifying resilience, determination, and courage for her students and community.
“Lisa’s integrity and trustworthiness are unmatched,” TJ High ML teacher Amanda Miller wrote in her nomination of Martell. “At Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, she is an invaluable member of the faculty. … Her reliability, generosity and collaborative spirit make her an essential and trusted part of the FCPS family.”
Julie Doyle, department chair of t TJ High’s Multilingual Education Program wrote, “Lisa is known and loved by her students and colleagues for finding opportunities and creative ways to lend a hand … I know that our students and the TJ community are better because she is here, serving TJ, every day.”
At TJ High, Martell supports students who speak English as a second language, coaches sports, mentors new teachers, and collaborates with colleagues to support students in earning their diplomas. A strong advocate and role model, Lisa also extends her care beyond the classroom, fostering dogs, cats, and previously, children in need.
In addition to Martell, this year’s FCPS Veteran in Education Service Award nominees were:
- Tracy Brown, a Special Education teacher at Butterfly Ridge Elementary, who served in the United States Air Force
- Kenneth Lewis, a Web Developer for the FCPS Department of Technology Infrastructure, who served in the United States Navy
- Kevin Orsini, a Physical Education teacher at Centerville Elementary and Glade Elementary, who served in the United States Army
- Derek Parrish, a Safety Systems Technician for FCPS Safety & Emergency Management, who served in the United States Air Force
- Terra Williams, a Computer Science Teacher at Gov. Thomas Johnson High, who served in the United States Army
