Overview

Paraeducator of the Year 2019 Marisol Rodriguez with members of the board of education

Mrs. Marisol Rodriguez began her career as a Paraeducator twenty-three years ago after enrolling the oldest of three children into the preschool program at Batchelder School. The Teacher was warm and supportive and quickly invited her to become a volunteer, working within her daughter’s classroom. It became apparent to her the positive impact that the teacher and the support staff had and the way it affected children’s academic and social achievement. Mrs. Rodriguez realized that her passion was in working in a school and being the first to touch the lives of preschoolers and giving them the most positive experience possible to begin their educational journey. She was fortunate to have outstanding fellow teachers and paraeducators who became role models and mentors for Marisol as she first pursued obtaining a high school diploma. The diploma enabled her to begin her career in the Hartford Public Schools as a paraeducator where she has joyously enriched the lives of the countless preschoolers who have been in her classroom.

Mrs. Rodriguez was born and raised in Hartford and is a product of the Hartford school system. She lives with her husband of 30 years Jaime in East Hartford CT. She proudly has raised three daughters Michelle, Monica and Yelissa, and is the proud grandmother of four grandchildren, who are the apples of her eye.

Marisol is currently working in Preschool at Kennelly School in Hartford Ct. Her quest for education did not stop, as she graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Charter Oak College at the age of 45. It is her firm belief that each person’s educational journey never stops. As educators, we need to be current with the strategies and instructional practices that best support the varied needs of our students. As Connecticut’s Ann-Marie Murphy Paraeducator of the year, her message to paraeducators is simple; that as educators we too need to be role models for our students and families to showcase how lifelong learning benefits everyone and leads to richer, more fulfilled lives and career opportunities.