Rafael Martinez-Ortiz has been selected to take on the role of principal at Dream Academy, where he has served as associate principal since 2023. Mr. Martinez-Ortiz is known as an organized, student-centered administrator who faces challenges with a positive attitude and the goal of finding solutions that enhance student learning.

In his current role at Dream Academy, Mr. Martinez-Ortiz oversees APEX, AVID, physical education, driver’s education, and the science and English departments. He is responsible for assessments, Title III funds, graduation, and oversees school counselors and 504 plans. Over the past three years, he led the post-secondary team to increase the credentials and pathways to assist Dream Academy students in making a successful transition to college and/or careers.

For seven years prior to joining Dream Academy, Mr. Martinez-Ortiz worked at Elgin High School in administrative roles including as the assistant principal for freshman success, a divisional chair, and dean of students. He created many supports and programs to support freshman students and collaborated with community partners to connect students with post-secondary and extracurricular opportunities.

He was a bilingual teacher at Elgin and Larkin high schools from 2007 to 2016, teaching subjects including biology, chemistry, geometry, health, and environmental science. He was part of the committee formed to implement the Dual Language program in each of the district’s five comprehensive high schools and was a strong advocate for the Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes bilingualism as an asset in the 21st century.

Mr. Martinez-Ortiz holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. He has a master’s degree in bilingual and multilingual education from Aurora University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University Chicago.