More than meets the eye

First year teacher turns track coach. Joseph Martinez recently joined the staff as a sixth grade Social Studies teacher at Patrick M. Villano School. This spring, he also started coaching track.

“It’s very exciting!” Martinez said. “I have always wanted to coach, so it feels great to have the opportunity to do so in my first year teaching in Emerson.”

Martinez coaches track at the Emerson Junior-Senior High School to middle and high school students.

“It’s not strange dealing with both middle and high school students. Hopefully, I will be coaching long enough to coach my former students a few years down the line. It would be interesting to see how you all change over the next few years,” he said.

The Emerson High School track and field team won the NJIC Patriot Division Championship this year. This is the team’s third undefeated championship season in a row. Martinez also did track as a student.

“I did track in high school. I threw javelin and shot-put, so I will start working with students participating in those events, but I hope to learn more about other events so that I can help the team however possible,” said Martinez.