John Martinez has served as the principal of Mackenzie Middle School in Lubbock ISD for 7½ years. While serving at Mackenzie MS, Dr. Martinez was selected as the 2018 TASSP Secondary Middle School Principal of the Year.   Prior to joining Lubbock ISD, he served as a principal and college advisor for 8 years in Abilene ISD. He was appointed as the founding principal of the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math & Science (ATEMS) in 2009 while serving in Abilene ISD. He also served as a teacher, coach, and assistant principal in Merkel ISD where he began his career in education in 2001.

Before entering his career as an educator, he spent 6 years working for the US Postal Service and 4 years in the US Air Force stationed at Dyess Air Force Base serving as a C-130 Loadmaster from 1991-1994.

Mr. Martinez has been married to Gina Martinez for 29 years and together they have four children. Houston is 2018 graduate from Princeton University. Isaiah is a 2022 graduate of Yale University. Blaise is an 10th grader at Lubbock High School, and their youngest son, Rocco, is entering 6th grade at Hutchinson Middle School.