Erie Middle School Choir Teacher Abigail Martinez has been honored with the 2026 Best Should Teach Award from the University of Colorado Boulder. The award recognizes educators whose teaching, mentorship, and impact on their school communities set a standard of excellence.
Martinez was nominated for her exceptional teaching and dedication to mentoring pre-service and early-career teachers, while creating classrooms where students thrive and feel a sense of belonging.
A 2006 Boettcher Scholar and CU Boulder graduate, Martinez has led nearly 400 students daily in grade-level and extracurricular choirs since 2010. Her ensembles have performed nationally, and she has been named a 2025 GRAMMY Music Educator Quarterfinalist and a 2026 GRAMMY Legacy Award recipient.
Martinez is also a dedicated mentor, welcoming student teachers and practicum students for over a decade, and sharing her expertise in community-centered music education. She believes every child deserves the space to be their authentic self, and that together we can use music to make a positive change in our communities and our world.
The Best Should Teach Awards Ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Chancellor’s Hall at CU Boulder. The event is free and open to the public.