Martha Castro is a teacher with over 18 years experience in the private and charter school systems. She is a lifelong resident of Shreveport. Martha received her bachelor's degree from

LSU-Shreveport in Spanish and Journalism. She received a master’s degree in Spanish

Literature from the University of New Orleans and a master’s degree in Education from

Centenary College of Shreveport. Martha spent time studying in Mexico as part of a study abroad program, and she formed ties that she still maintains today.

Martha began her Spanish teaching career in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. After two years she and her husband moved back to Shreveport where she then spent 16 years as the Spanish teacher at First Baptist Church School. Martha enjoys making language learning fun

and tries to incorporate cultural learning in her lessons. She believes that learning languages is

important because Revelation 5:9 says that Christ has redeemed us by His “blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” She believes that language acquisition helps us to

share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with people of different tongues and different nations.

Martha and her husband, Carlos, are members of Heritage Baptist Church where Martha is the

pianist and Spanish interpreter. Martha is enjoying working with the children of Ignite, and she

looks forward to seeing them grow more in God’s Word and the Spanish language.