Martinson takes on new role

By MEGAN HUGHES

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Ironwood — The Ironwood Area School District has officially welcomed Dan Martinson into the position of superintendent. Martinson began his new role on July 1 and has been settling into it ever since.

Martinson started his Ironwood career as a social studies teacher from 1999-2002. He then worked as an alternative education teacher for the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District in the Escanaba area.

He returned to Ironwood in 2014 as an alternative school educator. Since then, he has held several roles, including briefly serving as dean of students from 2018-2020, then he became assistant principal and athletic director for the Ironwood Area Schools.

In referring to former superintendent Travis Powell, Martinson said, “I have been part of the team with Travis for the six years he was here, and we have done a lot with MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support) and PLCs, which are Professional Learning Communities.”

Martinson added, “All of those things are working toward increased test scores and increased student performance. We have laid the groundwork, and we are at the point now where we can continue it.”

Martinson said his big focus with this groundwork is to continue to improve and expand upon it as the years go by.

“We will continue to grow those things and look for new opportunities as they open up,” he said.

Martinson said that, in his first year as superintendent, he will stay focused on getting his feet wet and learning all the ins and outs of the position.

The new superintendent will be one of several speakers at Friday’s Centennial Celebration opening ceremony, which will be held at 2:30 p.m. on the front steps of the school.

“I’m excited to see old alumni come back and tour the school,” he said. “Tim Kolesar really helped out with the tours last weekend, and will be there on Friday too.”

Martinson commended the amount of work that the Centennial Committee has put in to planning for the celebration.