Martin Karp

Dr. Martin Stewart Karp has dedicated his professional life to improving education through direct action, thoughtful leadership, and a focus on the needs of every student. For more than three decades, he has been involved in teaching, school administration, policy development, and community engagement, guided by the belief that meaningful change comes from active participation. He earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master’s in Education, and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from the University of Miami. He also completed an M.S./M.B.A. program at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, equipping him with both educational expertise and strong communication skills. Martin Karp began his career as a classroom teacher, where he quickly developed innovative approaches to learning. At Biscayne Elementary, he created a gifted program that welcomed students from both public and private schools, setting an example for collaboration across traditional boundaries. As an Exceptional Student Education (E.S.E.) specialist and department chairperson, he organized events that celebrated the work of students with special needs. He also partnered with Lehrman Community Day School to launch one of the district’s earliest public-private gifted programs, bringing together students from different systems into one enriched academic setting. His commitment to creative education extended to media, where he produced WKDZ Kids’ World, a weekly television program highlighting student achievements and classroom activities. The show, which aired on Cable TAP and WLRN-TV Channel 17, reflected his view that learning should be shared and celebrated. In 2004, Dr. Martin Karp was elected to the Miami-Dade County School Board, where he served four consecutive terms until 2020. During this time, he introduced and supported initiatives that improved school environments and shifted high school start times to better suit student needs.