Don Martin is a native of Georgia. He received his undergraduate degree in physics and a Master of Arts degree in mathematics from Duke University. He began his professional career as a teacher at Wilkes Central High School in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, where he served for four years. He attended the University of Kentucky and attained his Doctorate in Education. For the next nine years he served two school districts in Kentucky as superintendent.

Dr. Martin returned to North Carolina in 1989 to assume the position of Superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury Schools. In August 1994, he began his tenure as Superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, the 83rd largest school district nationally.

Highlights of his tenure include:

• $94 million bond referendum (1995)
• $2.4 million National Science Foundation Grant (NSF) (1996)
• New graduation standards (1996)
• $1.2 million (NSF) Grant with Wake Forest Medical School (1996)
• $6.1 million Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant (1999)
• $2.1 million 21st Century School Grant (2001)
• $5.6 million Magnet Schools Assistance Grant (2001)
• $2.3 million in state, national, and federal technology grants (2001)
• Worked with community leadership to raise $8 million from local businesses and foundations to support the district's Blueprint for Technology (2001).
• Continual improvement in closing the majority/minority achievement gap in each grade level over the past seven years
• $3.3 million SciMax (NSF) grant (2001)
• $150 million bond referendum passed (2001)
• $325,000 Thurgood Marshall/Gates Foundation small high school grant in conjunction with WSSU (2003)
• $7.1 million Magnet Schools Assistance Grant (2004)
• Music Highlights:
• Directed all eight high school bands in two closing numbers at the Forsyth County Band Jamboree each year for the past twelve years.
• Directed the "National Anthem" with the Winston-Salem Honors Chorus for the past seven years.
• General Awards:
• 1995 Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina Association of Dance Educators
• 1996 Superintendent of the Year by the North Carolina Music Educators
• 1997 North Carolina Association of School Librarians Administrator of the Year
• 1999 Piedmont Triad Superintendent of the Year
• 2001 Salvation Army Boys Club Excellence in Leadership Award
• 2004 Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club High School Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2004 Band Director Emeritus Forsyth County Band Jamboree
• 2005 Finalist for the Jay Robinson Leadership Award by the Public School Forum of NC
• 2006 Superintendent of the Year by Northwest Regional Educational Support Agency

Dr. Martin is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Forsyth Futures (FF), a community collaborative. Additionally, he serves or has served as a member of various educational and community boards that include: the Secretary to the Army's Advisory Committee for JROTC and ROTC; the Advisory Board of the Old Hickory Council of Boy Scouts; Board of Directors of the Dixie Classic Fair; Advisory Board and Executive Committee of Center for Community Safety; Board of Visitors of Winston-Salem State University College of Education; Advisory Board of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University's College of Education; and, the Board of Directors for the School Health Alliance for Forsyth County. Dr. Martin is an active member of the Rotary Club of Winston-Salem. He is a member of Mount Tabor United Methodist Church and serves on the Church Council.

Dr. Martin is married and has grown children, two sons and a stepdaughter. His wife, Rita, is the Guidance Director at North Forsyth High School.

Email Dr. Martin at: dlmartin@wsfcs.k12.nc.us