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TEN - Colorado
Nicholas Martinez
Executive Director

Nicholas credits his family for instilling the value of education early and igniting a deep passion for learning with Colorado’s families and students. Shaped by his own educational experiences and the stories of the families he has served, Nicholas is committed to fighting alongside communities to create a more just education system because all kids deserve a life of opportunities. As co-founder and executive director of Transform Education Now (TEN), Nicholas organizes families, community leaders and decision makers to ensure that every child receives a world-class education, regardless of their zip code.

Prior to leading TEN, Nicholas organized with the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST) Public Schools. He also served as a teacher at Southwest Denver, where he leveraged his experience building relationships with families and students. A proud Denverite, Nicholas graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

More about Nicholas Martinez
I aspire to be like my grandpa. Here's why:

My grandpa never asked a question without knowing the answer, and yet, he still helped you find your own path to the answer. He was the wisest and kindest person I have ever met and always did what was right, even if it was hard. His wisdom and integrity is what I strive towards. He was also a lot of fun to be around and had an infectious laugh that lit up the room. My grandpa taught me that to be a good organizer, you have to both be a good person and be able to have fun and enjoy every single day.

Why I love my job:

I love my job because I get to work alongside people that will literally change the world just for their kids. Moms, dads and grandparents are the fiercest advocates. Every day, I am inspired by their love, passion and tenacity.

My connection to public schools:

I am a product of public schools, a former teacher in public schools and a strong believer in the role that education plays in our lives. Schools are the center of a community, and the place we trust to care for our precious children. I also believe that all too often your zip code pre-determines your path. If we are to truly uphold our values, it starts with ensuring that every child is given the tools they need to build their own dreams to be able to live a life full of opportunity.

What I’m bad at:

I am terrible at spelling. Thank God for auto-correct.

The image that represents why I work at 50CAN:

This is Christian and he is why I do this work. Every single day, children like him go to schools that are not preparing them to live out their dreams or schools that tell them they have to sacrifice who they are to succeed. I do this work because Christian is brilliant, kind and hilarious. He deserves every opportunity in the world – just for being himself.

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