PRINCIPAL DOUGLAS P. RODRIGUEZ WINS STATE'S
PRINCIPAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

A lifelong educator and product of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system, Douglas P. Rodriguez, former principal of Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School, was recently named the winner of the 2008 Principal Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership.  The award was established in 1988 to recognize exemplary principals who spearhead initiatives to increase student performance, promote safe learning environments, and establish partnerships with parents and community members.

Rodriguez began his career as a social studies teacher at Miami Central Senior High School. After teaching at various schools throughout the District, Rodriguez made the leap to administration as assistant principal of Howard A. Doolin Middle School.  He later went on to serve as assistant principal at G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School and principal at Miami Springs Senior High School.  In 2005, he was appointed principal of the city of Doral’s first public high school, Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School.  Rodriguez recently took on the challenge of leading Miami Central Senior High School, the academically-challenged school where he began his career.

Rodriguez believes that the cornerstone of any successful school is to have a direct partnership with parents and community members.  During his tenure at Miami Springs Senior High School, he began a project called “Paint with the Principal” that brought in over one hundred volunteers to paint and beautify the school.  The project provided students the opportunity to earn community service hours, parents a chance to change the environment at their children’s school, and teachers the challenge to take action in creating a positive climate at the school.  While at Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High School, Rodriguez was instrumental in developing partnerships with the PTSA, the business community, and the city of Doral.