The Martin Institute was established by Brad Martin and his family.
Mr. Martin is Chairman of RBM Venture Company, his family investment company. He served for nearly 20 years as an executive of Saks Incorporated and retired as Chairman and CEO in 2007.
He is a member of the Board of Directors of a number of public and private companies in which he has an interest and is also involved in a variety of not-for-profit enterprises. He is a trustee of Presbyterian Day School.
Mr. Martin is a graduate of The University of Memphis and also holds an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management of Vanderbilt University. He is also a former member of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
He is married to the former Dina Miller and is the father of five sons—Daniel, Rawleigh, Myles, Wesley, and Jack.
Below are a few words from Mr. Martin about the institute, the importance of professional development for teachers, and PDS and its connection to the Martin Institute.
PDS has become one of the finest boys’ schools in America, and we are fortunate to have this treasure located in Memphis. The PDS commitment to build boys and make men has a significant impact on the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical development of over 600 boys in this community each year.
PDS is an outstanding school in large part because it hires and invests in outstanding teachers. The Institute supports this commitment to the continuous development of PDS faculty by providing funding for faculty participation in programs at Harvard and other internationally renowned venues for teacher training.
The Institute also strives to help create a pipeline for more great teachers—specifically, those who would become part of PDS or other schools in the Memphis and Shelby County area. The residency program of the Institute is designed to help do so.
We also believe PDS itself can become a center for excellent teacher training and development right here in Memphis, Tennessee. We will do so by producing excellent seminars and workshops and provide access to this programming for public and private school teachers throughout the region.
The Institute will extend the reach and mission of PDS beyond its existing student body. The Institute will share PDS resources with other teachers in the region. It will provide scholarships for non-PDS teachers to attend the national development programs, and it will provide training support to teachers who serve children of special needs in this community.
