Soldier. Motivational speaker. Actor. Dancer. Author.
Those are just a handful of J.R. Martinez’s accomplishments after graduating from Dalton High School in 2002.
“He shows our students that you can go on to be very successful after graduation,” Chris Siefert, director of outreach for the high school, said of Martinez.
The 2011 “Dancing With the Stars” winner will speak to Dalton High students and parents at 6:30 p.m. on Monday as part of the school’s literacy night. Siefert said Martinez demonstrates that “literacy is still important even after they (students) have left the halls of Dalton High.”
Martinez wrote his autobiography “Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength and Spirit,” last year and will have autographed copies available at the event, which is not open to the public. The book details his time in Iraq as a private and his recovery after an anti-tank mine blew up the Humvee he was driving, leaving him with multiple injuries.
“He really is very close to teachers and administrators here,” Siefert added. “It’s wonderful to have him. And I think it’s very important that students see someone who — even when faced with adversity — you can go on to be a success.”
That’s what Siefert hopes for all students.
“We want to emphasize the importance of literacy to our students,” she said. “The whole night will help introduce parents to literacy. Many parents know the importance, and others — given our demographics (mostly Hispanic) — are not quite as familiar with it. So we want to expose them to different things.”
The literacy night will also feature a book fair that will spotlight student work, an open house of the Dalton High literary lab and a Kindle giveaway.
Martinez was born in Shreveport, La., and lived in Hope, Ark., before moving to Dalton the summer before his senior year of high school. He resided here a short time after graduation and considers Dalton his hometown.
Local News
March 9, 2013
J.R. Martinez to visit Dalton High, promote literacy
- Local News
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College bound
Noel Salaices poses next to his picture on the Advanced Placement Scholar wall at Dalton High School. (Matt Hamilton/The Daily Citizen)
Noel Salaices said he has become inspired over the past year to look beyond his circumstances and realize the blessings in his life.
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