Betsy Martin has done many things in her life to promote theatre at the local, state and international levels.

She began teaching theatre at New Lexington High School in 1972. She also took over the position of Drama Club advisor and became a Thespian Troupe Sponsor. At New Lexington she directed a play and a musical each year. After a few years of absence, she took another teaching position at Southern Local Schools. She continued directing shows and being at part of thespians at this school. In 1986 she returned to New Lexington and her position as theatre director. As theatre director Betsy introduced her students to a whole new world by taking them to area, state and international conferences. During her career at New Lexington she had nine students in All-Area Shows (she directed the 2001 All-Area show) and five students in All-Ohio shows. Five of her students served on the board as student officers and one of them was an International Student Officer.

Throughout her years at New Lexington Betsy has directed many shows which have been performed at state conference. Some of them were original scripts written by her.

Betsy has held many positions at the state level. In 1974 she served as an assistant state director for the OEdTA state board. From 1982-1987 she served as a member of the board and then again in 1993-1999. During her final term on the board she helped plan the very first OEdTA Junior Thespian Conference. Betsy and a few of her students traveled to Florida to attend the Florida Junior Thespian Conference. There, she learned about Junior Thespians and brought the idea back to Ohio.

Betsy was appointed by the governor to serve on the Ohio Arts Advisory Committee for the state of Ohio. She was an arts assessor/presenter for the Ohio Department of Education.

Many students in Southeastern Ohio don't always have an opportunity to experience life outside of their small community. Betsy changed that for many people. If a student couldn't afford to go to a conference, she made sure that money was available to get them there. Students at New Lexington would work hard for two years to raise enough money to go on the biannual trip to New York City. Not only did Betsy take students places to experience theatre, she also brought theatre to her school. Over the years she has arranged for different theatre groups to perform for her school and the community.

Betsy is currently retired from teaching theatre. She is on sabbatical leave from New Lexington and is teaching at Ohio University. But anyone who knows Betsy knows that she can never truly leave theatre. While at Ohio University she is taking a playwriting class to help her enter a new chapter in her life.