By Jessica Dillon
Jonathan Martin’s path to the Henry County School Board was shaped by both personal experience and a desire to advocate for children facing challenges in school.
Martin initially ran for the Blackberry District seat in November, but lost to Sherry Vestal. When an at-large seat later became available, he ran again and was selected to serve on the board. He brings with him a background in business and a strong interest in addressing bullying in schools.
“I was born and raised here in the area. I grew up in the Sanville community. I graduated from Bassett High School, and then I went to” Patrick & Henry Community College, Martin said.
His professional background includes work in banking, insurance, human resources and consulting. He currently works for ValleyStar Credit Union, where he previously served in marketing before becoming a branch manager.
“Prior to being a branch manager, I served in the marketing department there. So that was my most recent position,” he said, noting he took the local position to avoid commuting to Rocky Mount.
After getting married, Martin and his wife moved to Ohio for six years to help care for her parents after her mother was diagnosed with both breast and colon cancer.
“They found out that my mother-in-law had breast cancer and colon cancer at the same time,” he said. “We were newly married — we had only been married four months. You know, I thought if it was me, I would want to be right near my mom.”
Martin said he didn’t hesitate to make the move.
“I actually put my two weeks’ notice in at work and went to quit my job before I even told my wife,” he said with a laugh. “She was pretty excited, because getting to be closer to her mom meant a lot. We lived there for six years. Today, her mom is completely cancer free.”
While living in Ohio, the couple had a daughter. When they returned to Virginia, she enrolled in Henry County Public Schools at age 4.
“She started preschool at Stanleytown, she went to kindergarten first, and now she’s in the second grade,” he said.
Martin said his decision to run for school board came after his daughter experienced bullying in first grade.
“I had some people reach out to me and say, ‘Would you consider running for the school board?’” he said. “And I thought, I don’t know if the Lord’s really leading me in that direction, but I’ll pray about it.”
Around that same time, he said, a young girl in Roanoke died by suicide.
“It was right around the same time that that young girl in Roanoke took her life,” he said. “And I was like, OK, God, I feel like that’s a sign. You’re bringing this up several times. Something’s got to change in the school system.”
Martin said the school handled his daughter’s situation well.
“It was handled phenomenally. Her teacher was outstanding. It could not have been handled any better,” he said. “We have since become family friends.”
Still, the experience left a lasting impact.
“I feel like, truthfully, the issue with bullying is something that starts at home,” Martin said. “I feel like that’s a learned trait. I don’t feel like that’s something we’re born with.”
He said it was difficult to hear his daughter talk about feeling self-conscious at such a young age.
“For it to start so early for her to be picked on in the first grade — even body shaming — that’s hard,” he said. “I don’t remember being in first grade and something like that happening to me.”
“That really is what got me started,” Martin said. “It was like, man, something has got to change. Somebody’s got to be an advocate, because if my child’s going through it, then certainly someone else’s is as well. I’m not just fighting for my daughter — I’m fighting for everybody.”
Martin said he was not discouraged after losing his first race and has known Vestal for years. He said running a clean campaign mattered to him.
“I even called her when her signs were moved when mowing was done at the administration building,” he said. “That’s just part of who I am as a Christian.”
