Adale’s Commitment to Community
Dr. Adale Martin was elected to the Norfolk School Board in 2018 and has served three terms as Board Chair, including during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout her service, she has maintained a clear focus on improving student academic outcomes, expanding school security resources, and supporting Norfolk Public Schools teachers and staff.
As a mother of a Norfolk Public Schools graduate and a current high school student, Dr. Martin brings both professional expertise and firsthand experience as a public-school parent to her work. She collaborates with families to help them understand their rights as they navigate the school system, while working to strengthen equitable access to the resources and services students need to succeed.
A Lifelong Commitment to Public Education
Dr. Martin is a proud product of public education—from Pre-K through her Ph.D. Her educational background includes:
- A Ph.D. in Public Policy from Old Dominion University’s School of Public Service, with specializations in collaboration and international security policy.
- A Master of Public Administration from Louisiana State University.
- A bachelor’s degree in International Studies and French from The Ohio State University.
- Completion of the University of Virginia Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership Program, where she now serves as a class representative on the Sorensen Alumni Council.
Professional Experience
Dr. Martin’s career has centered on adult education and training, curriculum development, and program management. Her experience includes managing clinical and scientific oncology programs at the American Society of Clinical Oncology and overseeing counterterrorism training for first responders and SWAT teams at Louisiana State University’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training.
That combination of education, public-policy expertise, training leadership, and parent perspective informs her work on behalf of Norfolk students, families, educators, and the broader community.
Most of all, Dr. Adale Martin is an experienced advocate for NPS students.
Her record of service includes the VSBA Award of Distinction, the highest level of recognition in the Virginia School Boards Association’s School Board Academy.