RODRIQUEZ, ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER SUPPORTS ALL HOBAN STUDENTS

Monica Rodriquez has been in the field of education for 15 years and part of the Hoban community since 2019. Different opportunities have led her to various schools, but her desire to ultimately teach high school students led her to Hoban where she was immediately drawn to the culture of the school and shared values of the students, teachers and administrators.

Rodriquez took a unique, but experience-filled, path into teaching. She began her college career as an international business student, but witnessing the 9/11 tragedies changed her perspective and made her reevaluate her career choices. Her love for history then led her to pursue a history education degree. When it was time to get her master’s degree, she was challenged to evaluate where she might go next. After much thought, her choice to go into special education became clear, inspired by her personal experience of having three family members struggle with learning and cognitive differences.

“Going into special education has allowed me to become an advocate for those students who may not be able to do so for themselves,” Rodriquez said. “I wanted to choose a path which kept me in the classroom where I could have the greatest impact on my students.”

As the director of the Academic Success Center at Hoban, Rodriquez focuses her efforts on working closely with her caseload of students as well as helping to grow the Center and the services that are offered at Hoban. Additionally, she makes an impact within Hoban by helping to coordinate high school placement testing for students who require testing accommodations, works with the admissions team to coordinate the admission of students with various learning plans and is the coordinator of the Jon Peterson Scholarship. Her seemingly endless energy also has led her into roles as a resident educator mentor and an advisor for the National Honor Society.

“The Academic Success Center provides services to all students of Hoban,” Rodriquez said. “We provide academic tutoring opportunities to every student who attends this school. We provide guided study halls, which are open to all students and we work hard to be advocates for our students to be sure that those who do need accommodations or intervention services are receiving them.”

Rodriquez works hand-in-hand with the faculty and administration to make sure that all students have equal access to the curriculum regardless of any accommodations needed. She focuses on making sure students know why they have certain accommodations and encourages students to become advocates for themselves so they learn those transferable skills once they graduate high school and seek out future plans.

Under Rodriquez’s direction, the Academic Success Center has seen tremendous growth in the past few years. From just one intervention specialist, to now three, the Center is now able to offer expanded services to meet the needs of more students each day. Nearly 100 students come through the Academic Success Center each week for various reasons and services.

“We think of ourselves as a well kept secret that eventually gets shared,” Rodriquez said. “There are more than just intervention services offered in the Center. Students come to us to learn how to hone many of their executive function skills such as: preparing for tests, time management, communication and other skills that they will need later on in their lives. We have various supplies available for students to use to work on classroom projects, and we even have students who come and hang out after school as a safe space to recharge and relax.”

“The Academic Success Center, led by Monica, is a special and vital part of our institution for so many students,” said Associate Principal of Student Services Jennifer Mattes. “Since Monica's arrival at Hoban, she has grown the ASC into a multifaceted Center that provides executive functioning support, tutoring and intervention services for students. She juggles many responsibilities, but always ensures that she is present in the moment with her students. She offers a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and motivation to keep moving forward. Monica is a true example of what it means to educate hearts and minds and we are so incredibly blessed to have her as part of our community.”