Ms. Debra Martinez

Debra Martinez was re-appointed to the Board in May 2008 to serve a five year term. She was originally appointed by the Mayor to a four-year term in 2004. Ms. Martinez served three terms as the Board's Vice President.

She chairs the Policy Committee and the Long Range Strategic Planning Committee, and is a member of the Instructional Affairs. She is also the liaison to the New York State School Boards Association.

Ms. Martinez is CEO of DM Associates, consultant for business management. Formerly she served as the Director of Family Health Programs for the New York State Department of Health. Formerly, as Facilitated Enrollment and Outreach Director for the innovative New York State Children’s Health Insurance Programs, and Chairwoman / Executive Director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board as the State’s Consumer Advocate. She also held several positions with the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority. Early in her professional career, she was a teacher in New York City of English as a Second Language and later taught to emotionally disturbed children.

A tireless volunteer, Ms. Martinez is President of the Grand Council of Hispanic Societies in Public Service, a founding board member of the Hispanic Women Leaders of Westchester, and a mentor for Women Unlimited, a public/private mentoring partnership. In Yonkers, she serves on the Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Board.

Ms. Martinez is the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her service, including the Influential Women in the Labor Movement Award from the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Hispanic Democrats of Westchester’s Outstanding Achievement Award, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Award for Health Services, and the Distinguished Puerto Rican of the Year Award the Sociedad Puertoiquena de Queens.

Ms. Martinez earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Lehman College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Tufts University. She continues to serve her Alma Mater as a Tufts Alumni Volunteer, conducting interviews with prospective students.