Martin Fitzgerald
Assistant Director, Doctoral Program
Benziger Hall, 163C
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald serves as Assistant Director of Doctoral Program, and has served as a core clinical
faculty member with the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership. A native of Ireland,
Martin attended Limerick University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in English
and PE. Martin emigrated to the United States in 1986 and continued his studies in
New York. He earned a Master of Science in Reading Education from Brooklyn College,
a Master of Science in School Leadership from Fordham University, certification as
a School District Leader from Bank Street College, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
from Manhattanville College.
Martin’s career in education included teaching in Ireland and teaching in the New
York City public and private school systems. His educational leadership experience
was in the Chappaqua Central School District where he began as an Assistant Principal,
and then became the Principal of the Robert E. Bell Middle School. He served in this
role for twenty-two years while also serving as the Putnam Northern Westchester Liaison
with the New York State Department of Education.
An advocate for middle schools and the education of young adolescents, Martin was
closely involved in the New York State Middle Schools Association where he served
on committees influencing statewide policy, programs, and practice. Martin’s experience
with instructional initiatives and programs includes Teacher’s College Reading and
Writing Workshop, Common Core Math, STEAM curricula, Next Generation Science Standards,
NYS Social Studies Framework, and Social Emotional Learning programs.
A lifelong educator, Martin understands the importance of inquiry, planning, and reliable
research. His research interests include K-12 pedagogy, educational leadership, inclusion
and equity, and policy. Martin’s preferred research methodologies are qualitative
and mixed methods. A longtime advocate for equity and inclusion, Martin has served
on diversity committees and presented at conferences, and his early years as an administrator
were spent developing and establishing summer school programming for disadvantaged
students on the lower west side of Manhattan. A student of organizational theory,
Martin values vision, mission, culture, collective capacity, and adaptive learning
environments.
Recently, Dr. Fitzgerald served as a principal at Rye High School and as a principal
at Rye Lake Middle School/High School. He is an age group competitive runner, a golfer,
and an avid reader. He resides in Westchester County with his wife and son.