Get To Know Our Academic Dean, Tika Martin
We recently sat down with Marymount High School’s Academic Dean, Tika Martin, to talk about her lifelong dedication to education and her new role within our school community.
When Ms. Tika Martin graduated from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and moved to the West Coast nearly 20 years ago, she immediately loved the legendary light of the SoCal sky. Ms. Martin’s fondness for the Golden State glow runs deeper than just aesthetics: for as long as she can remember, she has aspired to live personally and professionally by a principle with a similar sheen: The Golden Rule.
The timeless call to, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” came naturally to Ms. Martin at a young age. Her intersecting passions for learning and service were nurtured by her Puerto Rican mother and African-American father, both dedicated educators. With the added perspective of her family’s professional and cultural experiences, she embarked on an educational journey defined by her philosophy and dedication to community.
As a graduate of a Catholic elementary school, Ms. Martin went on to later complete her undergraduate degree at Connecticut College and earn an M. Ed. from Harvard University. Her early career experiences solidified her commitment to lifelong learning, and Ms. Martin found particular fulfillment when her work directly impacted the lives of young people.
“My own experiences as a student and active participant in the communities around me were so important on a developmental basis,” Ms. Martin recalled. “Witnessing the impact that education and encouragement can have at the personal level only further demonstrated that it is always important to be open-minded. I strive to be both thoughtful and mindful in all that I do and that means asking questions and trying to understand before making assumptions about individuals or groups.”
Ms. Martin brought her dedication, led by the Golden Rule, with her as she pursued opportunities at top universities and secondary schools, including USC, Campbell Hall and The Archer School for Girls.
Aa an advocate for young women, Ms. Martin was delighted when, last year, she joined Marymount, which she long admired for its established mission to affect social change and justice through education, empathy and student leadership experiences.
“I am passionate about making a difference and shaping female leadership,” said Ms. Martin, who points to Marymount’s extensive programs designed to educate the ‘whole girl.’ “My own values and experiences very much echo Marymount’s and the RHSM’s mission.”
In her role as Academic Dean, Ms. Martin teams with fellow administrators, faculty and like-minded learners across the community to ensure Marymount students are inspired by and provided with the tools to realize their unique potential through classroom studies and powerful hands-on learning experiences.
“Simply put, everyone at Marymount can be a leader,” Ms. Martin reflected. “As a school, the core of our focus is on each student becoming their best selves; we support and challenge our girls to have four incredible years where they can explore their interests,pursue their passions and discover their innate capacities to become resilient, lifelong learners.”
Ms. Martin knows the power that skilled encouragement has on young women’s lives, as she credits the lasting influence of her own teachers in her professional development.
“This is a school where there is such diversity of talent, skill, leadership and knowledge – all the work of individuals collaborating in concert to fulfill a shared and vitally important mission. It is an honor for me to learn and to share in return,” Ms. Martin said. “Most of all, it is rewarding to see that this effort has long created a special environment where our students have limitless opportunities.”
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