Team TUSD
Ms. Melissa Martinez has been a dedicated educator in TUSD since 1996, beginning her career as a bilingual kindergarten teacher at Van Buskirk Elementary. After some time away, she returned in 2014, teaching at Davidson Elementary and Sahuaro High School before joining Innovation Tech as part of its founding staff in 2020. She now teaches 11th Grade AP Seminar.
Ms. Martinez loves the strong sense of community at Innovation Tech. She appreciates that students choose to attend a school with a unique, career-focused approach, and she values the close connections formed in a smaller school where staff and students know each other by name.
Outside of teaching, she enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with family, being active in her church, and exploring Tucson’s Mexican restaurants , especially Mi Nidito, El Charro, and El Minuto.
Fun fact: While at a conference in Bali, Ms. Martinez had the unforgettable experience of shaking hands with President Barack Obama during his presidency.
Mr. Derek Hernandez teaches STEM and Integrated Science to freshmen and Biology to sophomores at Innovation Tech High School. His hands-on approach blends STEM practices with core science topics , starting with chemistry and moving through exciting projects like his favorite, the CO₂ dragster races, where students design, build, and race wooden cars they’ve crafted and painted themselves.
With 35 years of teaching experience, including 13 years in Phoenix and now in his third year at Innovation Tech, Mr. Hernandez values the school’s unique atmosphere and small, connected community. He believes the close-knit environment motivates students and makes learning more personal and engaging.
Outside of the classroom, Mr. Hernandez enjoys traveling with his wife, spending time with family, reading, and being outdoors. He also loves the mountains of Colorado and northern New Mexico.
Fun fact: Though he was a multi-sport “jock” in high school, Mr. Hernandez proudly considers himself a big nerd at heart and he encourages all students to read his favorite novel, The Giver, for its powerful story and lessons in writing and vocabulary.