Newly-appointed DISD School Board Member Blanca Martineau can credit her success in life with many things: God, family, but most of all, being surrounded by really terrific people.
Martineau was appointed to the DISD School Board June 20 with her first order of business to attend school board training last week.
“It was a really nice surprise,” Martineau said about being appointed to the board. The life-long learner enjoyed the Team of Eight training and said though she had attended many week-long seminars in her life due to her career, this particular training gave her a broader appreciation for everyone associated with DISD.
“It completely opened up my mind. We are working as a team, not just in Dublin, but in Texas,” she said. “I would really love our community to come and attend meetings. It takes the whole community.”
As Business Development Manager for Comanche County Medical Center, Martineau is familiar with many aspects of the community including the school district, businesses and citizens.
Moving to Dublin in 2019, she started working with CCMC in 2020, but she has more than 30 years in the medical industry in a variety of subjects including medical billing and coding.
Wasting no time in giving back to her community, Martineau joined the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as a board member in 2021 and then was appointed Chamber President this April.
“I love the community and the business owners,” she said. “You really need your community to operate a business.”
As far as the chamber is concerned, Martineau said she is appreciative of all the work board vice president Paul Gaudette and executive director Amy McDonald complete for the Dublin business community.
“It wasn’t a difficult decision,” she said about taking the role of Chamber President. “I knew I could trust my team. It wasn’t scary.”
She also serves in the Dublin Rotary Club.
Martineau is joining the Dublin Chamber and Rotary Club together each month with a networking meeting every third Tuesday of each month at noon where business owners will get to share their knowledge about their businesses. The event is at the Rotary Building on Patrick Street.
There is a plan for a quarterly get together meeting in the evening with all businesses from the area, taking place at a variety of businesses.
With an already full schedule, Martineau knew agreeing to serve as a DISD School Board Member wasn’t a decision she could come to lightly and had to ask her husband of 35years, Wyatt Martineau for his opinion.
“He’s the love of my life, my friend and my right hand,” she said. “I wasn’t doing it without his okay and without praying about it.”
She also sought opinions from her boss and colleagues at CCMC who were enthusiastic about her taking the board position.
“I prayed about it and if I can make the difference in one child’s life, it is worth it,” she said.
Martineau’s opinion of DISD grew by leaps and bounds after last year when she met many of the seniors while the rotary club fed 200 graduates hamburgers and also through teacher appreciation events.
“They were so polite, reverent and just respectful,” she said of the students. “The kindness we received … I’m just so excited to be able to give back.”
Many citizens have questioned whether Martineau has children or grandchildren in DISD and while she does not, she is passionate about making educational opportunities the best they can be for all kids.
Since she serves as Primary President of the Stephenville Ward with Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, children are her calling.
“I just want what is best for them,” she said. “I am being called to serve in the school board.”
Martineau’s educational back-ground includes accounting as a certified public accountant and English with Brigham Young University.
“I want our children ready to go to college in every way possible,” she said.
In her free time, Martineau teaches yoga and operates Blanca’s Designer Cakes.
“I have always been blessed with amazing teams and been surrounded by really great people,” she said.