School Board with New Trustee Vickie Martinez-Murillo

Henderson’s new HISD Trustee Vickie Martinez-Murillo took the oath of office Tuesday evening and then took her seat among the other trustees. The board two weeks ago appointed Vickie Martinez-Murillo to fill the unexpired term for the District 4 seat after interviewing a number of candidates who had applied for the position. 

ā€œI am so honored to serve the district,ā€ said Murillo. ā€œThere’s so many great people in our community that are deserving. I just hope I can do something, that this can be a small step that can help the community and make things better.ā€

Martinez-Murillo is not new to the area or the school district. A 1998 graduate of Henderson High School, she first came to Henderson from Mexico with her mother when she was young. Hers was one of only a few Hispanic families in the area at the time, said Murillo. She learned English quickly and soon became a translator not just for her family but for neighbors as well.

ā€œPeople would come to our home and ask me to translate for them. I helped them at the doctor’s office, at school and even when buying a house. I was taught to be a helping person.ā€

At 16 years old, she became a U.S. citizen and later she worked as a paraprofessional at Northside Intermediate School. It is there, working with then teacher Caressa Roberts, that she first thought about continuing her education.

ā€œShe motivated me to go to college,ā€ said Martinez-Murillo. ā€œBefore that, I didn’t think I had the opportunity.ā€

ā€œWe had those conversations every day,ā€ recalled Roberts who now is officially ā€œDr. Caressa Robertsā€ and serves an Assistant Principal at the high school. ā€œI told her she should never stop learning and improving herself.ā€

Three year ago, she married Joseluis Martiez. Now they have a blended family of five children and together they run their own business, M&M Painting and Carpentry. She serves as a Henderson Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and earlier this year was named the Louise Jacks ā€œYoung Woman of the Yearā€ for her extensive community service. 

Murillo says she hopes her Hispanic heritage can be of benefit to the district.

ā€œThe [Henderson School] district has been great,ā€ remarked Murillo. ā€œBut one of the biggest reasons I felt moved to apply for this seat is my belief that there is still just a big gap in terms of connecting with the Hispanic community.ā€

Murillo noted that over the later 30 years, the number of families from Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala has steadily increased. Currently, more than 32% of HISD students are Hispanic/Latino and the district is constantly looking for better ways to bridge the cultural divide so that all students can receive the highest quality of education possible. 

ā€œWhen I was young, people trusted me with helping them in important situations,ā€ said Murillo. ā€œTrust is so important. And I hope to earn their trust in this new position as a Henderson ISD Trustee.ā€