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Abilene ISD board approves Martinez Elementary turnaround plan, to implement ACE model
Summary
The board approved a Martinez Elementary turnaround plan directing the district to implement the ACE (Accelerating Campus Excellence) model, designate a principal and pursue grants and resource campus designation to sustain additional supports; trustees voted 6–0.
The Abilene ISD Board of Trustees on Nov. 20 approved a turnaround plan for Martinez Elementary that directs the district to implement the ACE (Accelerating Campus Excellence) model and pursue grant and designation pathways to sustain additional resources.
Associate Superintendent Patty Blue told trustees that TEA requires a turnaround plan after consecutive low campus ratings and that the ACE model — which emphasizes strong principal leadership, teacher effectiveness, extended learning, family engagement and wraparound student services — is the best option to accelerate student growth at Martinez. Blue said the district had identified a principal willing to lead the campus and highlighted the need for the principal assignment as a prerequisite for TEA approval.
District staff described a community-informed development process that included staff and parent meetings (including Spanish-language outreach), classroom walkthroughs by TEA campus support specialists and input from Region 14 and internal instructional leaders. Blue said the district had gathered input from 35 staff and 91 parents via surveys and multiple campus observations.
Funding paths discussed included applying for School Action Fund grants and pursuing "resource campus" designation. Officials said resource campus designation could generate an estimated $1,700 per pupil per year for Martinez if approved, though they cautioned the designation is not guaranteed and the designation application and award processes occur a year after implementation. Blue and other staff emphasized the district would likely need to front-load local funds in the first year while pursuing grant awards.
Trustees asked about teacher recruitment and retention, and staff said Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA)-designated teachers and stipends would be part of the staffing strategy; past stipend levels were cited around $5,000 per year as an example. Officials said they expect to place a high proportion of TIA-designated teachers on the Martinez campus and to provide supports and reassignments for existing Martinez staff who are not selected for the new team.
Board members also introduced Leslie Roberts as the campus leader who has agreed to take on Martinez. After questions and discussion the board voted to approve the turnaround plan; the motion passed 6–0 with one trustee absent. District staff said core teaching staff would be targeted to be in place by spring break and that the timeline aims to start implementation for the 2026–27 school year, subject to grant and TEA processes.
The approval authorizes staff to pursue the grants and actions described; TEA approval of the plan and later resource campus designation remain separate steps tied to state review and competitive grant awards.
