In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud sits down with Dr. Jamie Harper Martinez, Assistant Superintendent of Van Alstyne Independent School District. Dr. Martinez shares how her district is navigating rapid growth while keeping instruction aligned, supporting teachers, and strengthening collaboration across every campus.

Wendy and Dr. Martinez explore how Van Alstyne ISD uses district level instructional focus documents, intentional coaching systems, and leadership academies to create coherence across classrooms. Her story highlights the power of clarity, alignment, and people-centered leadership in building systems that work.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome and guest introduction

01:07 Dr. Martinez’s journey in education

03:29 Moving between districts and building experience

06:12 Why Van Alstyne ISD is growing so rapidly

08:03 Opening new campuses and planning for capacity

09:55 Earning her doctorate while serving as a district leader

10:54 Her research on principal coaching and district level PLCs

13:10 Building collaborative leadership structures across schools

15:27 Turning PLCs into authentic conversations, not compliance

17:21 Data meetings that drive instructional action

19:49 How coaching strengthens relationships and trust

23:08 Daily campus visibility and leadership presence

30:42 Creating districtwide alignment so every student experiences equity

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode offers a practical, encouraging look at how a fast-growing district maintains coherence without losing sight of people. Dr. Martinez explains how her team uses shared instructional documents, coaching structures, and consistent expectations to ensure every student receives an equitable learning experience, no matter which classroom they are in.

You will appreciate her honest reflections about what principals and teachers truly need, and how district leaders can build trust through presence, listening, and collaboration. Her insights make district level systems feel human, accessible, and grounded in real relationships.

If you are looking for actionable strategies for managing growth, strengthening alignment, or supporting instructional leaders, this conversation will resonate deeply.

Connect with Dr. Jamie Harper Martinez

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jamie-harper-martinez-b0026a64/
Website: https://www.vanalstyneisd.org/

Follow Us

Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/

About Unlock 360°

Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, and one breakthrough at a time.