Rudy career highlights 2 Rudy Rodriguez
Selected Family and Professional Highlights
FAMILY:
Married to Rosemary Rodriguez, Retired, Denton ISD School Social Worker
Children (all graduates of the Denton ISD Schools):
- Rodolfo Rodriguez, Jr., General Counsel, CEC Entertainment, Inc., Irving, TX
DeAnna Vasquez, HR Specialist, NE Chapters of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Alexandria,
VA
- Dr. Cynthia Rodriguez Eagle, Asst. Prof., Teacher Education, University of North Texas at Dallas
DENTON RESIDENT: August 1975— present
EDUCATION:
B.S., Texas A & I University (now Texas A&M University at Kingsville)
M.A., Central Michigan University
Ph.D., University of New Mexico
EMPLOYMENT:
1964 — 1968: Secondary School Teacher in Mercedes and Sinton, Texas
1970 — 1973: Director of Bilingual Education, Fort Worth Independent School District
1975—2002: Faculty and Administration, College of Education, Texas Woman's University
2002 — 2008: Faculty, University of North Texas
Highlights:
Rudy has been an educator for all of his adult life and has influenced the lives of untold numbers of university
students, as well as Denton families and children.
In 1969, he was part of a team that established the original bilingual/English as a Second Language education
program in the Fort Worth ISD. Some of his accomplishments during that stint included securing federal grant
support for the program, helping to build the infrastructure ensuring long-term sustainability of the program and
building the first major workforce of Latino/a professional personnel for the FWISD.
He also led a team in establishing the first major bilingual/ESL teacher education programs at TWU and
Denton and Dallas UNT campuses, including securing federal grant support for the programs and helping to
build the foundation for the programs' long-term sustainability. It is impossible to count the number of teachers
and administrators who have graduated from these degree programs at TWU, UNT Denton, and UNT Dallas,
and who now hold positions in pre-K and high school programs in the Denton ISD and other school districts
throughout Texas.
Rudy joined with colleagues in the 1970s and 1980s in forming the Texas Association for Bilingual Education
(TABE) and the Bilingual Education Association of the Metroplex (BEAM). He is also well known among his
colleagues for his production of the video on the History of Texas Bilingual Education: Celebrating Our Legacy
and publications in the education of English learners. For his accomplishments and contributions, Rudy has
received Lifetime Achievement Awards and/or recognition for meritorious service in teacher preparation from
several professional organizations, including the TABE, BEAM, National Association for Bilingual Education,
the Texas Council for Reading, and Phi Lambda Theta. In April 2016, he received an Heroe de La Educacion
Bilingue award from his bilingual education colleagues at Texas A&M University Commerce.
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Also in April, 2016, Rudy received a special award for his leadership and meritorious service by the 1970's
graduates of the TWU bilingual/ESL Teacher Education Program. Throughout his career he has cared deeply
for his students, which he considers a part of his extended family.
Advocacy for Expanded Educational Opportunities for Denton ISD Children and City of Denton
Families
Rudy has always demonstrated a passion for community service, as evidenced by his involvement in the
Denton Schools and service to both the city and the county. He has been at the forefront of many causes
centered on inclusiveness, fairness, dignity, and opportunity. His drive and determination to improve the lives
and opportunities of people, and particularly those of minorities, derives from his experiences with oppression
and intolerance directed to the Mexican American community in 1950's and 1960's Texas. He has dedicated
his life and career to ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to receive a good education and
become a productive member of American society.
Selected Service to the Denton Schools
Together with the Denton LULAC Council, Rudy led community efforts to name the first Denton school in honor
of an outstanding Mexican American educator, Dr. Tomas Rivera. He also advocated actively for the hiring of
the first Mexican American principal for the Rivera school, Adela Nunez. In 2009, he was also integrally
involved in the successful campaign to name the new DISD Early Childhood Development Center in honor of
community leaders Popo and Lupe Gonzalez.
Over a span of over 40 years, Rudy has provided tireless service to the Denton Schools as a member of the
Woodrow Wilson and Strickland Schools' PTA; the Newton Rayzor and Denton High School Campus
Leadership Teams; and, to the DISD Bond Election, Re-Districting and Strategic Planning, and Bilingual
Education and Multicultural Education Committees. He especially values his contribution to the schools as
founding member of the Denton Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors.
His most fulfilling service to the District, however, was his six-year tenure as a member of the Denton ISD
Board of Trustees. As the first Latino to serve in the Board, he joined with his Board colleagues & school
administration in supporting policies and programs focused first on the growing diversity of children in the
DISD; also, was vocal in supporting DISD teachers and need to diversify the district's professional workforce.
He especially appreciates the support of the Board and Dr. Braswell in approving the first Denton ISD Mariachi
Student group. The most challenging, and still incomplete task, is securing fair and adequate state finance
policy provisions. This is at a time that DISD is going through rapid growth in student enrollment, especially
enrollment of children who are economically disadvantaged and of minority status.
His advocacy for minority children, especially English learners, carried over to his involvement in the Texas
Mexican American School Board Association and the National School Board Association.
Selected Service to the City of Denton and Denton County
Rudy has served on Bond Election Committees, the Denton Community Development Board, the Denton
Housing Authority (appointed by Mayor Castleberry), and the 2010 Census Count Committee (Appointed by
Mayor Burroughs). In 2012-2014, he organized a successful campaign that led to the City Council's approval of
the naming of the newly proposed Soccer Athletic Center in honor of G. Roland Vela. In 2015, he was
appointed by Commissioner Andy Eads to serve in the Denton County History and Culture Advisory
Committee. As member of the History and Culture committee and LULAC Council representative, he served
as primary chair of the committee planning the successful Sept. 16 — Oct. 16, 2016 Hispanic Heritage Month
celebration.
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Selected Service in Non-Profit Organizations
Rudy has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Denton Christian Preschool and currently is a
member of the SERVE Denton Advisory Committee.
Service to TWU and UNT
Additionally, Rudy was a member of the planning committee for the 2016 reunion of Bilingual Education
Students who received degrees from TWU from the 1970s through the 2000s, attended by approximately 50
alumna. As an appointee of LINT Education Dean, Dr. Jerry Thomas, he is currently serving on the UNT-COE
Development Board.
Personal
Although retired, Rudy and Rosemary enjoy contributing volunteer time on the Borman Elementary campus
where two of their grandchildren are students and daughter, Cynthia, serves as PTA president. He also takes
special pride in supporting his son in his work as president of the Denton High School Family Assistance
Foundation.
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