Martin Karp

Dr. Martin Stewart Karp has devoted his life to ensuring that education works for every student. For more than 30 years, he has been directly involved in teaching, leading schools, influencing educational policy, and creating opportunities that help young people succeed. His philosophy has always been clear — to make change, you have to participate fully and work alongside those you aim to serve. Martin Karp earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, as well as an M.Ed. and a B.B.A. with a specialization in Marketing, from the University of Miami. He also holds an M.S./M.B.A. from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. This strong academic foundation gave him the tools to approach education with both a strategic and practical perspective. He began his career as a teacher, where his classroom approach emphasized interactive learning and programs that met students where they were. At Biscayne Elementary, he created an innovative gifted program that welcomed students from both public and private schools — a forward-thinking effort that promoted collaboration across traditional boundaries. His work as an Exceptional Student Education (E.S.E.) specialist, department chairperson, and organizer of student fairs for special education programs demonstrated his belief that all learners deserve to be recognized for their achievements. In partnership with Lehrman Community Day School, he helped pioneer a public-private gifted education initiative, allowing students from diverse educational settings to share an enriched academic experience. Dr. Karp also used media to inspire learning, producing WKDZ Kids’ World, a weekly educational TV program featuring students and classroom projects. The show aired on Cable TAP and WLRN-TV Channel 17, reflecting his belief that education extends beyond textbooks and classrooms. From 2004 to 2020, he served four terms on the Miami-Dade County School Board. During his tenure, he championed initiatives that improved student health, implemented later high school start times, expanded services for students with disabilities, strengthened science and gifted programs, and raised awareness about vaping. Every policy he supported was driven by the question, “What will best serve our students?” In his current role as Chief of Staff to the Head of Schools for a network affiliated with Talmudic University, Martin Karp oversees daily operations, strategy, and academic programs spanning K-8, high school, and post-secondary levels. At Yeshiva Elementary School, he founded the Success Center, designed for students who thrive outside conventional classroom settings. This program combines essential academic skills with STEM projects, guest speakers, and enrichment activities, all aimed at helping each child grow according to their abilities and interests. His dedication is not limited to education. Since 1995, he has been involved with Miami-Dade Animal Services and the Humane Society through the H.O.P.E. Contest, encouraging students to promote animal welfare. His decades-long involvement in Scouting USA, serving in various leadership roles, reflects his belief in developing life skills and character in young people. Dr. Karp has also played an active role in public broadcasting as a long-serving member of the WLRN Community Advisory Board, where he reviews and edits educational resources tied to award-winning documentaries. He has worked with organizations such as The Children’s Trust, the New World School of the Arts, and many other community groups, always offering his time and experience to strengthen programs that serve others. His work has been honored with numerous awards, including the Yeshiva Elementary/Middle/Aderes Schools Educational Leadership Award, Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award, Guardian of Youth Philanthropy Award, Miami Beach Senior High School Hall of Fame induction, Helping Hands Award, People, Pets & Vets Award, PTA/PTSA Lifetime Legacy Award, and Teacher of the Year Award. He has also served as Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade School Board across multiple terms, a recognition of his leadership and service. Dr. Karp has shared his insights through media appearances, op-eds in the Miami Herald, and speaking engagements at educational and community events. He has addressed mental health in schools, opioid awareness, effective policy-making, and adapting to change in large education systems, always presenting his ideas with clarity and a student-first focus. For Dr. Martin Karp, the true measure of his work is not in titles or awards, but in the lives of the students who have been supported, the schools that have improved, and the communities that have benefited from his efforts. Together with his wife Danielle, he is raising three sons — Herschel, Benjamin, and Samson Raphael — in a home where the values of learning, service, and community are lived every day.