Shaping Leadership. Strengthening Boards. Serving Students.

Our Mission

At Tercero Strategies, our mission is to equip superintendents and school leaders with the tools, strategies, and support they need to thrive in the most challenging aspect of their role: board relations.

We believe strong governance partnerships are the cornerstone of effective districts. When boards and superintendents work together with clarity and trust, students, staff, and communities benefit.

Our Story

The name Tercero means third in Spanish — a tribute to legacy and stewardship. It is inspired by the founder’s grandson, Martin III, and reflects our belief that every leadership decision impacts not just today, but the generations to come.

Tercero Strategies was built on this principle: leadership is about leaving things better than you found them.

Our Work

We provide resources and guidance designed specifically for superintendents, boards, and school leaders, including:

• Practical toolkits and templates for board communication, crisis management, and governance alignment.

• Consulting services, from board retreats to superintendent coaching.

• Speaking engagements and professional development that reframe board relations from conflict to collaboration.

• Digital products like The Superintendent’s Survival Guide to Board Relations, helping leaders across the country navigate their toughest challenges.

Our Philosophy

• Clarity prevents conflict.

• Trust is built in deposits, not declarations.

• Boards and superintendents can thrive as partners, not adversaries.

Our Founder

Martin Madrid, Superintendent of Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools, built Tercero Strategies from lived experience. As Superintendent of the Year in New Mexico and President of the New Mexico School Superintendents Association, he has firsthand knowledge of the pressures and politics that shape leadership.

Martin launched Tercero Strategies not just as a consulting business, but as a movement — to empower leaders to turn survival into thriving.

Call to Action

We exist to support leaders who face the toughest rooms, the toughest questions, and the toughest responsibilities.