Biography

I am an Associate Lecturer and Academic Program Coordinator in the Career and Workforce Education programs in the College of Community Innovation and Education. I teach and advise students in undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare current and future career and technical education (CTE) teachers, trainers, and workforce development professionals. My work centers on helping students understand how to design, deliver, and evaluate high‑quality CTE and workforce training that responds to evolving industry and community needs.

In addition to teaching, I coordinate day‑to‑day operations of the CTE bachelor’s and master’s programs, including curriculum planning, internship coordination, and support for adjunct faculty. I develop and maintain online course offerings, with a focus on aligning curricula to state requirements, workforce trends, and best practices in technology‑mediated instruction.

I also engage in CTE‑related scholarly and professional activities that inform program improvement, such as examining CTE teacher pathways, workforce talent development, and global and industry partnerships. These efforts support the continuous enhancement of our programs and contribute to the broader conversation about preparing an effective and future‑ready workforce.

Education
  • Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, Career and Workforce Education, University of South Florida
  • M.A. in Career and Technical Education, University of Central Florida
Areas of Expertise
  • Career and Technical Education - Teacher Education
  • Workforce Development and Training Educator
  • Leadership in Career and Workforce Education

Research

My scholarly work focuses on strengthening career and technical education (CTE) and workforce systems through teacher preparation, talent development, and global workforce readiness.

I examine postsecondary CTE teacher quality and its relationship to student achievement in Florida’s career certificate programs, with an emphasis on teacher pathways, certification, and professional development. A sustained line of research investigates the recruitment, training, and retention of CTE teachers nationally, including a funded, multi-year project that produced a practitioner-focused toolkit. I also study CTE teacher preparation program sustainability and policy issues in Florida and comparatively (e.g., U.S.–Finland VET/CTE pathway analysis).

More recently, my work explores globalization of the workforce through CTE, including virtual exchange, space careers exploration in the middle grades, and global competencies embedded in CTE curricula. These interests extend to grant-funded projects on middle grades CTE acceleration and internationalized online coursework. Across these studies and funded initiatives, my research agenda integrates program evaluation, policy analysis, and practitioner-oriented scholarship to advance CTE teacher pipelines, workforce talent development, and equitable access to high-quality CTE pathways.

Research Interests
  • CTE Teacher Professional Development/Education
  • CTE Career Pathways and Articulation
  • Workforce Development and Training

Current Funded Projects

  • Martino, L. (PI – Lead). (2023). Middle Grades CTE Accelerator: Orlando. U.S. Department of Education through Luminary Labs (Professional Development Project, Funded): $110,000.
  • Martino, L. (Project Lead). (2022-2025). Postsecondary CTE teacher recruitment, training, and retention toolkit: A national search. ECMC Foundation. Project Travel Funds: $15,000.
  • Martino, L. (Project Lead). (2021). Postsecondary CTE Teacher Recruitment, Training, and Retention Toolkit. ECMC Foundation. Project Funding (Travel Funds): $4,000.
  • Martino, L. (2020). Globalizing an online graduate-level business education course. Centers for International Business Education & Research (CIBER). Project Funding (Professional Development): $5,600.

Service

My service centers on advancing high‑quality career and technical education (CTE) and supporting student success through leadership at the university, state, and national levels. I contribute significantly to governance and curriculum at UCF through roles on the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, Graduate Council/Policy Committee (including service as chair), faculty search committees, and college- and university-level awards and advisory committees. I also support the undergraduate research mission by chairing and serving on Honors Undergraduate Thesis and dissertation committees and participating as a judge and reviewer for teaching and excellence awards.

Beyond UCF, I provide disciplinary leadership in CTE through editorial and reviewing roles for journals and professional associations, proposal review for major conferences, and service on statewide and national committees focused on teacher preparation, recruitment, and retention. I serve as a discipline coordinator for the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System and as an advisory board member for multiple CTE-related organizations, helping align secondary, postsecondary, and workforce systems.

Across these roles, my service is grounded in collaboration, advocacy for CTE and workforce education, and a commitment to building pathways that connect students, educators, and industry partners.

  • Florida Department of Education - Florida Statewide Course Numbering System Discipline Coordinator (2020-present)
  • Article Reviewer - Journal of Research in Technical Careers (2023-present)
  • Article Reviewer - Association for Career and Technical Education Research (2020-present)
  • Article Reviewer - Journal of Research in Technical Careers (2023-present)
  • Advisory Board Chair - Florida Virtual School for CTE Programs (2018-present)
  • Advisory Board Member - Orange Technical College, Modeling & Drafting (2020-present)
  • UCF Honors Undergraduate Thesis Committee Member (2022-present)

Awards

  • UCF Quality Online Course badge designation for ECW6105, ECT6791, BTE6935 (2022-2025)
  • High-Impact Practices: Global Learning: ECW3564 (2024)
  • UCF Excellence in Faculty Advising Award: CCIE college-level nominee (2023-2024)
  • Outstanding Symposium Conference Award Winner (Runner Up): Bartlett, II, J. E., Bartlett, M. E. Conrad, M., Adams, J., Shaw, S., & Martino, L. (2023, November 28). Exploring the CTE teacher shortage. [Symposium]. ACTER 2023. Association for Career and Technical Education Research. Phoenix, AZ.
  • Outstanding Roundtable Award Winner (Runner Up): Martino, L., & Shaw, S. (2023, November 28). Exploring Space Careers in Middle School: A State CTE Teacher Accelerator (Roundtable). ACTER 2023. Association for Career and Technical Education Research, Phoenix, AZ.
  • Effective Practice Conference Award: Atwell, A., Cottom, C., Martino, L. & Ombres, S. (2017). Creating a virtual community of practice for online adjunct faculty. OLC Innovate Conference, April 2017, New Orleans, LA.

Courses

  • ECW 6105 Career Education Curriculum Planning & Implementation (Fall)
  • ECW 6268 School, College & Career Readiness (Spring)
  • BTE 6935 Seminar in Business Education (Odd Spring)
  • ECW 7267 Career Pathways and Program Articulations (Fall)
  • ECT 4941/ECT 6946 Directed Field Experience/Internship (Every Semester)
  • ECT 6909 CTE Research Report (Every Semester)
  • ECW 6205 Administration of Local Career Education Programs (Summer)
  • ECW 5265 Experiential Learning in Career and Workforce Education Programs (Fall)