Doug Martin
Credit: Courtesy of Doug Martin
National Advisory Council member Doug Martin was born and raised in the small coal-mining community of Delbarton, West Virginia. After a stint as a Walt Disney Imagineer, Martin returned to his hometown to teach graphic design and illustration at the Mingo Career and Technical Center. The students in Martin's small rural classes are regularly recruited by some of the nation's top art and design colleges and universities, and they have been the recipients of more than a million dollars in scholarship money over the past few years.
Martin has been honored with the 2007 U.S. Department of Education's American Stars of Teaching award and the 2007 Leader of the Year award from Technology & Learning magazine.
He is featured in the following Edutopia content:
Find out more about our National Advisory Council.


Doug Martin-what a star you are!
I am a teacher in Las Vegas, Nevada. I teach students with disabilities. Of course I am very aware of Mr. Gardner's work regarding multiple intelligences. I teach my students all about it. When they learn about it they become excited because of this knowledge. For quite some time I have emphasized that they must find their own strong area (or intelligence) and nurture it. Being an artist myself, I encourage my students who can't read, to draw if they enjoy drawing. They demonstrate their knowledge of the subject through this kind of work. They can make presentations on the computer about their knowledge of the subject if they are not good at drawing. Technology assists with reading and spelling, too. In this process, many students with disabilities find that they are very creative and can get good grades. They also discover that, sometimes, they are good at something that others cannot do so well (like drawing) and it boosts their self confidence. This in turn makes them want to learn more and attend school more. Incorporating the arts and/or technology into assignments is often the key that will turn a student on to learning. Any teacher that can offer these choices to their students will help keep students from dropping out and may help struggling students find their own special place in the world of work. It may also help guarantee for them financial success and self satisfaction. Doug Martin, I commend you. Please continue to spread the word. The use of art and technology should be in every classroom. Art and technology teachers should roam the school helping in all classes besides having their own specialty classes.