Bio
Born and raised in the Bronx, Ms. Rodriguez expressed an interest in the arts, computer science and graphic design as a child, which later inspired her extensive teaching career in those fields. Since her arrival as a computer science teacher at Bronx Academy for Software Engineering (BASE) in 2016, Ms. Rodriguez has become an integral part of the Instructional Leadership Team, championing the transition to remote learning in March 2020, and continuously implementing best practices to keep students engaged during the pandemic. Ms. Rodriguez excels at getting students hooked on computer science and interested in STEM careers, and she creates unique learning opportunities, such as a student-run IT support program and an after school cyber security curriculum. Ms. Rodriguez also played a major part in helping the school become an officially-recognized Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school by the New York State Education Department, which has helped BASE build connections to potential employers and internship partners, such as with Google and Glass Files, and aligns the school’s computer science curriculum to state standards. Ms. Rodriguez’s principal noted her leadership in re-imagining the school’s curriculum, stating, “she helped us create the 10th and 11th grade sequence, which gave students the option of taking different programming language courses. And she also has helped us refine the final portfolio project for students. She’s a natural leader for our school.”
