Most students in Irene Martinez's Head Start classroom never want to leave. Martinez said she can recall two boys who would hang on to her leg because they didn't want to go home.

"They felt safe and cared for here," she said. One child had a mother with serious mental problems, and the other child's mother was addicted to drugs.

These are some of the situations that Martinez has to handle daily. But she says what she does is "mental therapy," and her peers say nobody does it better.

Martinez, a head teacher for the Napa Head Start program, was recognized last month by the California Head Start Association as the 2006 Teacher of the Year. She was chosen from more than 5,000 teachers across the state who focus on early literacy and other skills among low-income youth in Head Start programs.

Last year, Martinez's sister and mentor, Ana Hurtado, who works at the Westwood Head Start site, won the award.

"The children give me so much enthusiasm, I love coming to work," said Martinez, who works at the Head Start Menlo site on Myrtle Street.

Martinez has been working with Head Start since 1982, starting out as a parent volunteer and worked her way up to head teacher.

Napa-Solano County Head Start Executive Director Jackie Dollar Harrison said that Martinez epitomizes the soul of the Head Start mission.

"She brings to the classroom an incredible amount of compassion and cultural integrity, and so truly understands the needs of the children and families in the program," said Harrison.

Martinez is a native of Papzimaro, Michoacan, Mexico, and came to Napa in 1975. Both Hurtado and Martinez credit their parents for their successes.

"They gave us the values, the importance of respect toward others, and the confidence and desire to grow," said Hurtado.

Martinez and her husband have four children, one of whom has Down's Syndrome. She said her experiences with her disabled daughter helped her as a teacher, and her colleagues have recognized her talents.

"Her skills as a parent with a disabled child has brought richness to our program ... her classroom responds so well to children with disability," said Harrison.

Martinez is known to spend countless hours preparing the classroom and reaching out to children and their families. She often encourages parents to stay and read awhile with their children, and holds regular parent meetings.

In addition to teaching, Martinez mentors student teachers, interns from local high schools and behavioral health trainees.

"She is very compassionate," said Hurtado. "She does whatever is going to benefit the kids and families the most, and helps them to grow more self-sufficient."

"It's rewarding when you see things work out," said Martinez. "It's satisfying at the end of the year when you can feel and see that you made a difference."

Associate teacher Melissa Gatton says that working with Martinez has been wonderful. This is the first year they have been paired together, and she says their combined skills have maximized learning in their classroom.

"She has so much energy, I love working with her, and I've learned the most from her," said Gatton.

Martinez said that she gives her students the most she can, whether it be food, attention or just the warmth of someone who cares for them.

"To see her with the children, you have faith that things can happen," said Hurtado.