Fine Arts Director takes reins

Eradio “Roddy” Martinez

By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the NEWS

San Benito Consolidated Independent School District has created a new Fine Arts Director position, appointing longtime educator and musician Eradio “Roddy” Martinez to lead one of the district’s fastest-growing academic areas.

The role was established following a formal interview process in response to the expansion of fine arts offerings and the development of the district’s Performing Arts Center.

Martinez said the growth of programs across campuses made it clear that a dedicated leadership role was needed to manage staff, budgets, instructional resources, and curriculum.

He noted that many community members are unaware that San Benito CISD offers more fine arts programs than most neighboring districts, underscoring the need for coordination and long-term planning.

In his new role, Martinez oversees fine arts personnel, budgets, and curriculum alignment while providing instructional coaching to teachers. He emphasized that student success drives every decision.

“Whether I am creating a strategic plan, providing instructional feedback, or making decisions, my guiding question is, ‘How will this benefit our students?’” he said.

Martinez brings a broad and diverse background to the position. He spent six years as a middle school choir director and seven years at the high school level, following earlier work with the district as a piano consultant and percussion technician.

A multi-instrumentalist with experience in orchestra, jazz, mariachi, conjunto, and guitar, Martinez also traces his musical roots to Mexican folk traditions, his great-great-uncle was Narciso Martinez, widely known as the Father of Conjunto Music.

He said this wide ranging experience allows him to support instruction across band, choir, orchestra, theater, guitar, and elementary fine arts.

During his time as a choir director, Martinez earned 35 UIL Sweepstakes Awards, helped develop 19 All-State musicians, received the 2019 Texas Choral Directors Association Young Director of Distinction award, and gained recognition as a Texas composer.

Still, he says the most meaningful moments came from witnessing student growth and hearing gratitude from parents and former students.

A key focus this year has been building a strong leadership structure, including Directors of Bands, Choirs, and Strings.

The Strings division—now encompassing orchestra, guitar, mariachi, flamenco, and estudiantina—has been reorganized as its own department and is already showing growth.

Martinez is also working closely with theater and elementary fine arts programs to align curriculum and resources districtwide.

Community engagement is another priority. District students regularly perform at city events, civic celebrations, and local businesses, reinforcing what Martinez calls the community’s “largest investment,” its children.

Looking ahead, he believes the completion of the Performing Arts Center will allow San Benito to present large scale performances rarely seen in the region.

“Once the Performing Arts Center is completed,” Martinez said, “San Benito will witness the best performances we have ever seen in our city’s history. I’m going to make sure it happens.”