Martha Aastrup Ban

Martha Aastrup Ban is a dedicated Adventist educator with a lifelong passion for teaching and integrating technology into education. She began her teaching journey as an 8th-grade tutor for 1st graders, fostering a love for education from an early age. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from Atlantic Union College, an MEd in Education with a focus on Reading, and a graduate certificate in Instructional Technology from Framingham State College. Martha has taught various age groups, from pre-kindergarten to college.

Martha's teaching experience includes one- and two-room schools, which sparked her deep commitment to supporting overworked teachers. Her favorite age group to teach was grades 5-8, as she found the content engaging and the students dynamic. Martha served as the editor and writer for the Atlantic Union Teacher Bulletin and played vital roles as a curriculum specialist, webmaster, and instructor at Griggs International Academy.

After approximately 30 years of classroom teaching, Martha transitioned to her current role as the Director of Technology for Education at the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Her primary focus is advancing technology in education, demonstrating her unwavering dedication to supporting NAD educators in utilizing technology effectively. She manages platforms such as AE-Connect, AE Dashboard/Data Rollup, eCertification, and AE Educator's Corner. Martha also serves on the Griggs International Academy board.

Beyond her professional life, Martha's interests include technology integration with learning, camping, gardening, model railroading, and reading. She loves spending quality time with her husband Gerry, who recently retired as the Associate Director of Education for the Mid-America Union Conference, and their two adult children. Kaitlynn is a veterinary anesthesiologist at MedVet Cincinnati in Ohio, and Christopher is a senior software engineer for CDK Global in Portland, Oregon. Along with Martha's mom, two cats, two dogs, and fish, Martha and Gerry reside in Harrison, TN, fully immersed in the world of Adventist Education.