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Biography  Dr. Martin Karp is a lifelong resident of Miami-Dade County and is a graduate of our public school system.
At the University of Miami, he earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Education, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. At Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications, he earned a masters degree in a joint M.S. and M.B.A. program.
Dr. Karp is serving his second term on the Miami-Dade County School Board representing District 3. He is a voting member on two Miami-Dade County School Board committees. He serves as the Chair of the Instructional Excellence and Community Engagement Committee and as a member of the Innovation, Efficiency and Governmental Relations Committee. Previously, he served as School Board Vice-Chair and Chair of the School Support Accountability Committee.
Dr. Karp is a strong advocate for interest and needs-based learning, where each child is recognized as an individual learner. He is chiefly concerned about ensuring that students with special needs receive the appropriate services, and that hands-on science courses and art programs are preserved. He has proffered agenda items for children with disabilities, boys and girls who are gifted, youngsters who are in foster care and students whose families are facing foreclosure.
Martin Karp’s education initiatives on the School Board include increasing and sponsoring bilingual education programs, increasing the emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, establishing Dade schools as a foster care and adoption friendly workplace, adopting a District-wide Bullying and Violence Implementation Plan, adopting Health Connect with The Children’s Trust to provide nurses in 164 schools, supporting Holocaust Education programming, ensuring a differentiated curriculum for gifted students, improving job training and employment opportunities for students with disabilities, supporting sexual abuse education programs and teacher training, recognizing Special Olympics sponsors and participants, and promoting community service and service learning in elementary and middle school grades.
Eighteen years ago, Martin helped create the gifted program at Biscayne Elementary School. The program began as a unique joint effort between a private and public school with students from both schools participating.
Dr. Karp founded, coordinated, and produced a children’s television show, WKDZ Kids’ World. The show aired on a weekly basis on Cable TAP’s community access channels and on WLRN channel 17. On the PBS affiliate in Miami, WPBT-TV channel 2, Martin provided assistance and suggestions for educational programs. He created two educational radio talk shows, which he produced and hosted on local A.M. stations. The programs highlighted issues including school choice, dropout prevention, parental involvement, charter schools, overcrowding, and bilingual education. Guests included school board members, children advocacy group representatives, authors of books, adoption specialists, leaders of multicultural groups, and directors of organizations working with teen delinquency and the underprivileged.
Dr. Karp began volunteering in South Florida in 1982 when he started S.H.O.P. (Senior Handicapped Outreach Program). He created S.H.O.P. in an effort to assist elderly citizens who were unable to leave their homes and shop for groceries. In another voluntary role, Martin founded a countywide Miami-Dade County Public School district-approved contest sponsored by the Miami-Dade Police Department and Humane Society of Greater Miami. He started the Help Overcome Pet Euthanasia Contest 14 years ago and more than 3,000 students have participated. The purpose of the Contest is to provide students with an opportunity to engage in problem-solving activities addressing pet overpopulation in the community. He continues to coordinate the contest today.
Dr. Karp was awarded the highest honor in Scouting—Eagle Scout and he served as Advancement Chairman for a local Scout troop and as a board member for Pioneer District. Recently, Martin was honored with “The Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award” by Nova Southeastern University, the “Helping Hands Award” by the Jewish Community Services of South Florida, and the “People, Pets & Vets Award by the South Florida Veterinary Foundation.
Today, Martin serves on the board of the New World School of the Arts and The Children’s Trust.
Prior to becoming an educator, Martin served as Circulation Director and Business Manager for Southern Playbill Publishing, Inc.
Martin and wife Danielle are proud parents of Herschel and Benjamin Karp.
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