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Midland Elementary starts new year with new principal

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Midland Elementary School started the school year Wednesday under the leadership of a new principal.

Sidia Martinez will be the new principal at the elementary school, replacing Tracy Liu, who took a position with the county Office of Education.

“I’m very excited to start the new school year,” said Martinez. “It’s a new start. I have high expectations for the school year.”

Liu became the principal of Midland Elementary in October of 2013, after the principal at the time accepted a position in another district. Liu had served as an assistant principal for less than a semester when she was named the principal at Midland Elementary.

Her time as principal was mired in controversy, as several disgruntled parents spoke at a school board meeting in February of their concerns about Liu.

Martinez has been an educator in Title I schools for 16 years, and began her teaching career with a bilingual credential in San Diego city schools. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Education from California State University San Marcos and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from San Diego State University.

She began working in the Poway Unified School District in 2002 as a dual language teacher at Valley Elementary School, and became an assistant principal at Valley Elementary in 2008.

Between 2010 and 2015, she served as a principal in the Perris Elementary School District. “It’s always nice to come back,” said Martinez. “I was offered (the role of principal) in Riverside and I had to take it as someone with a passion for learning. I’m bringing back that leadership to (the Poway Unified School District).”

Martinez said she is looking forward to working with parents and the community in the new school year. “I truly believe in the roles of parents (in education),” said Martinez. “As long as the child is learning and we are collaborating, it’s a win-win situation. It’s important to listen to the parents and it’s important to be available to the parents. (Both Martinez and Midland parents) have similar goals for students to have a great academic experience.”

Martinez said she’s been taking time to learn about the Midland community. “It’s wise to learn about the community and take time to honor the work that has been done,” she said.

She doesn’t anticipate making any big changes at Midland, and said she will be spending her time learning the systems, the strengths and the weaknesses at the school before making any changes.

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