Guilford Appoints Dr. Gerardo Martinez as Adams Middle School Principal

The Guilford Board of Education has appointed Dr. Gerardo Martinez as the next principal of Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School, the town's only middle school serving approximately 486 students in grades 7 and 8. Martinez will officially begin his new role on July 1, 2026.

The board voted unanimously to approve the appointment following a principal search that included Dr. Wedley Simon serving as interim principal during the transition period. Superintendent Paul Freeman praised the selection, calling Martinez "an outstanding choice" for the school community.

Guilford's New Principal Brings Three Decades of Massachusetts Experience

Martinez comes to Guilford with more than 30 years of experience in public education, having served as a principal across several high-performing school districts in Massachusetts. His career has taken him through leadership roles in Lexington, Wellesley, Brookline, and Boston, where he led schools spanning the Pre-K through eighth-grade spectrum.

Most recently, Martinez served as principal of Estabrook Elementary School in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he focused on strengthening instruction, supporting student relationships, and expanding programs for diverse learners.

Beyond his school leadership work, Martinez has contributed to academic research and higher education. He is a co-author of "Data Wise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning," published by Harvard Education Press. The book has become a widely used resource for educators seeking to improve instruction through data analysis. Martinez has also served as an adjunct professor at Boston University's Graduate School of Education.

Martinez holds a Doctor of Education degree in policy studies from Boston University, a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Massachusetts, and a bachelor's degree in English and education.

Martinez Cites Middle School Roots in Accepting Guilford Position

In a statement following the appointment, Martinez expressed enthusiasm about returning to a middle school setting after years of leading elementary schools.

"It is a great honor to be selected to join the Adams Middle School community," Martinez said. "Among my fondest professional memories are being a middle school English teacher and principal."

Superintendent Freeman emphasized Martinez's leadership qualities and his fit for the Guilford community. "His deep commitment to student success, his collaborative leadership style, and his strong record of fostering inclusive, high-performing school communities make him an outstanding choice," Freeman said.

Adams Middle School Serves as Guilford's Central Secondary School

Elisabeth C. Adams Middle School, located at 233 Church Street in Guilford, is the sole middle school in the Guilford Public Schools district. The school serves approximately 486 students in seventh and eighth grade and has earned an 8 out of 10 rating from GreatSchools, a national school rating organization.

The school offers a gifted and talented program and has been recognized for outperforming 90 percent of similar schools in Connecticut on standardized assessments. Approximately 15 percent of students participate in the free and reduced-price lunch program.

Martinez's selection follows a search process that drew candidates from across the Northeast. His experience leading Pre-K through eighth-grade schools in competitive Massachusetts districts positions him to continue the academic trajectory at Adams, which ranks among the higher-performing middle schools in the state.

Dr. Simon, the interim principal, provided leadership stability during the search process. The transition to Martinez's leadership is expected to proceed smoothly with his July 1 start date, giving the incoming principal several months to prepare before the 2026-2027 school year begins in the fall.

The appointment is the latest in a series of administrative decisions by the Guilford Board of Education in early 2026. The board also recently transitioned its February 23 workshop meeting to a virtual Zoom format, though the reason for the format change was not specified in public notices.

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