Richard Rodriguez is a new instructional leader for the English department at Palo Alto High School. Anthro asked him five questions about his new role at the school and how he intends to maintain positivity in English classrooms and beyond.
What does a department head do?
“It’s a position of supervising, organizing and supporting the department, bringing information into the department, kind of being a liaison between administration and my colleagues.”
Is there something you want to do differently as the English Department head?
“I think for the past few years that I’ve been here we want to continue that work, supporting students, supporting teachers, streamlining, our rigor and our pedagogy and working towards students success and equity, making things equitable and addressing diversity.”
What do you do to motivate students in the classroom environment?
“Listening to the needs of students, trying to meet them where they can be most successful in a class. Fostering a love for literature and reading and writing and communicating through that. … Being rigorous, but not to the point of stifling fun creativity. Really just allowing students to find their own way in English. And just finding a love for literature. … Just bring in a diverse canon of literature to the class. One that you know reflects all students, all the people, not just a limited view or aspect of one certain group but you know, diversity and equity for all.”
What is your opinion on AP Lang grading?
“Evidence-based grading on grading standards, they’re all excellent ways of meeting students. You know where they’re at in various ways and encouraging success and growth that’s outside of the traditional.”