Torri L. Martin’s path to becoming a school principal didn’t begin with a teaching job right out of college. Instead, she worked in theater and led fundraising campaigns for non-profit organizations before settling on education as her calling. Now, she’s been named the new principal at Wilder Elementary School.
“I am so honored and excited to be chosen as the new principal of Wilder Elementary,” Martin said. “As a proud JCPS graduate, parent, teacher, and leader, I possess a deep understanding of the district's diverse student population and a proven track record of engaging, teaching, and leading them to success.”
Martin is currently the assistant principal at the Phoenix School of Discovery. She began her education career in 2013 as a math teacher at Stuart Middle School followed by teaching stints at Westport Middle and the J. Graham Brown schools. In the 2022-23 school year Martin was an academic instructional coach at duPont Manual High School before receiving a promotion to her current post at Phoenix. After a year in Jefferson County Public Schools’ principal internship program, 12 years in education and several years outside the school system, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools Zone 3, Dr. Jessica Rosenthal, said Martin is ready for the top job at Wilder.
“Ms. Martin is a highly-visible leader with the energy and enthusiasm needed to keep up with the incredible Wildcat students, staff, and families,” Rosenthal said. “She is looking forward to being our students’ “biggest cheerleader” at their events and competitions. The community can expect transparency, honesty, responsiveness, and collaboration from Ms. Martin.”
Martin is a JCPS graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. She has three master’s degrees in Theatre, Middle School Mathematics and Instructional Leadership: Principal Preparation, from the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville and Spalding University, respectively. Martin was also a Jefferson County Leadership Academy participant that successfully completed Emerging Leaders, the Equity Leadership Cadre, the Success League Summer Residency Program, and the Principal Internship Program. Her first day on the job at Wilder will be July 1.
“I am passionate about ensuring every student at Wilder goes to Middle School at grade level, striving for the school to become a top performer in JCPS and the state, ultimately preparing students for wild success in their future endeavors,” Martin said.
Martin succeeds Bill Perkins who is retiring after 32 years in JCPS, 11 of them as principal at Wilder.