About me
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 2024 LAUSD SEL Symposium. Today, we are honored to introduce an educator and leader, Jesus Rodriguez, who serves as the UTK-12 English Learner Instruction Specialist within the Multilingual Multicultural Education Department of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).Jesus's career journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to education, instruction, and leadership. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in Los Angeles, California, his personal story embodies resilience and determination.Arriving in the United States at the age of six with little command of the English language, Jesus embarked on a remarkable educational journey within the California school system. He pursued his higher education at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, specializing in Language and Culture.Jesus's teaching career began at the Santa Monica Malibu District, where he taught Spanish and English Language Development (ELD) classes at the secondary level. His passion for professional growth led him to transition to the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2006, where he continued to make a profound impact as a Spanish, ELD teacher, Yearbook teacher and other teaching opportunities with in the LAUSD District and out in the community.Driven by a desire to expand his influence beyond the classroom, Jesus ventured into English Learner instructional coaching in 2019, assuming a pivotal role at the high school level. His dedication and expertise led to his current position as a UTK-12 Instructional Specialist at the LAUSD-MMED Office, where he supports a team of International Newcomer Coaches and Counselors, Multilingual Multicultural Language Academic Coaches, and oversees operations across four International Network Academies. Additionally, Jesus collaborates on the development and delivery of professional learning initiatives for educators and school leaders.With dual Master's degrees in Educational Leadership and Education from Concordia University Irvine and Pepperdine University, respectively, Jesus's academic pursuits have further enriched his perspectives on education and honed his leadership skills. As he continues to refine his leadership abilities, Jesus aspires to continue his educational journey in Educational Leadership, furthering his impact on the field of education.
