Career Accomplishments
Dr. Martin Stewart Karp

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Award-winning teacher, educational administrator and policymaker
  • Nearly 300 video and written testimonials (see the Testimonials link on the tab bar above)

2021 - Present

  • Appointed as an Acting Head of Schools for Yeshiva Elementary School (YES-boys, girls), Yeshiva Middle School (YMS-boys) and Aderes (girls’ middle school).
  • Appointed as an interim Principal for YES girls and Aderes.
  • Appointed as Chief of Staff to Head of Schools for the Talmudic University consortium of schools, which includes YES boys and girls, YMS, Aderes, Mechina High School, Beis Midrash (post-secondary)
  • Appointed as Dean of Academic Affairs and Community Engagement for the Talmudic University consortium of schools.
  • Spearheaded the implementation of a new evidence-based assessment program for pre-testing and post-testing at YES, YMS and Aderes for the purpose of improving instructional outcomes.
  • Expanded the use of an instructional connection tool to complement the assessment program at YES, YMS and Aderes.
  • Created a new program designed to deliver a clear message that every child will enjoy learning and succeed. To accomplish this objective, the focus is placed on each child’s strengths, and projects are assigned to explore students' interests, and give individualized instruction and strategies to improve where each student is challenged while going at his own pace.
  • Completed a curriculum review in 2025 for a WLRN documentary, The Creole Pig: Haiti's Great Loss.
  • Completed a curriculum review in 2024 for a WLRN documentary, Never Drop the Ball. That documentary won 3 Emmy Awards.
  • Re-appointed to the WLRN Community Advisory Board (CAB) in 2023 and currently serving on the CAB.
  • Judging the H.O.P.E. Contest, which is now in its 31st year. The Contest focuses on the pet overpopulation issue in Miami-Dade. (Created the Contest 31 years ago as a Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) teacher, continued to oversee the Contest while serving on the School Board, and today I partner with M-DCPS staff, Miami-Dade Animal Services and the Humane Society of Greater Miami).
  • Honored at a Miami-Dade County Public School Board meeting (42-minute tribute/recognition) in 2022.
  • Named the recipient of the Yeshiva Elementary School, Yeshiva Middle School and Aderes Educational Leadership Award in 2022.
  • Hired by a School Board member from 2021-2022.
  • As a host school, worked with Teach FL to organize and celebrate the one-year anniversary of the largest expansion of school choice options in State history.
  • Worked with staff in expanding efforts to recruit employees.

2004 - 2020

  • Honored with the PTA/PTSA Lifetime Legacy Award in 2020.
  • Inducted into the Miami Beach Senior High School Hall of Fame.
  • Proffered more than 100 policy initiatives that were approved by colleagues on the School Board.
  • Attended every Board meeting and Committee meeting day during 16-year tenure.
  • Worked to ensure that students with disabilities receive appropriate services and support.
  • Created a board policy which led to greater access to hands-on science courses and dramatic increases in science fair participation.
  • Introduced numerous items addressing student health and safety and promoted education to prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss.
  • Specifically in district 3, provided valuable input which led to the funding for and construction of 7 new schools and 2 new cafeterias, new buildings/classrooms added at 14 schools, total window replacements completed at 6 schools; playgrounds and fields renovated at 11 schools, and all district 3 schools receiving facilities upgrades.
  • Ushered in nationally recognized academic programs that focused on improving graduation rates, dropout prevention, mentoring at-risk students and connecting all students with post-secondary opportunities. Included in the work was utilizing tools for students to successfully navigate the financial aid process and apply for scholarships.
  • Helped introduce City Year, AVID and College Summit programs that have been embedded in schools across the district.
  • Created a working group with support from the Education Fund that united college representatives and promoted the recruitment of students who would otherwise have been overlooked for post-secondary educational opportunities.
  • Taught at local schools and worked for an education foundation.
  • Served as the School Board’s representative on The Children’s Trust from 2005-2013. Aided in the effort to gain approval through a voter referendum that allowed for further support for children’s programming in perpetuity.
  • Served as the appointed representative for the Executive Board of the New World School of the Arts for 14 years.
  • Served on the Friends of WLRN, and WLRN’s Community Advisory Board 2006-2021.
  • Named a "Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award" recipient.

1983-2004

  • Launched the gifted program at Biscayne Elementary School (BES) (now Biscayne Beach Elementary School) 34 years ago, establishing an unprecedented model partnering a public (BES) and private school (Lehrman Community Day School) to recruit student participants from both.
  • Founded and produced a weekly children’s television show, WKDZ Kids’ World, that aired on Cable TAP’s community access channels and WLRN channel 17.
  • Founded a countywide initiative known as the H.O.P.E. (Help Our Pets Everyday) Contest, which provides a platform for students to engage in problem-solving activities addressing pet overpopulation in the community. More than 10,000 students have participated in the Contest since its inception.
  • Guided and supported educational programming on WPBT channel 2 and appeared on the television program, Issues and the Media.
  • Created two radio talk shows and produced and hosted them for local A.M. stations. The programs highlighted educational issues including school choice, dropout prevention, charter schools, overcrowding and bilingual education. Among the regularly featured guests were authors, adoption specialists and representatives from children advocacy groups, including organizations that addressed teenage delinquency and support for the underprivileged.
  • Taught as an Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University’s Graduate Teacher Education Program.
  • Served as Business Manager for Southern Playbill Publishing, Inc.
  • Served as Circulation Director for Miami Beach Magazine.
  • Earned the following degrees: Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Master of Science in Education, Master of Professional Studies (joint M.S. and M.B.A. program), Bachelor of Business Administration (honors program).
  • Graduated Miami Beach Senior High School (honors graduate) and was a National Honor Society Man of the Year Award recipient.
  • Awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.