Brenda Rodriguez

Brenda Rodriguez, interim director of the Chicago Public Schools project of the Center for School and Community Development at North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, discusses the importance of teachers having high expectations for all children. Excerpted from a videotaped interview with Brenda Rodriguez (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, 1998).

"Some of the thought and assumptions that teachers may have to hold more than they have had to in the past might include having high expectations for all students, not thinking that if someone has a disability that maybe they can do less work or that they're not going to be able to achieve a particular way because we haven't necessarily had an experience of this or otherwise. It may mean that we have to think much more broadly and inclusively about our environment, our seating arrangements, who is paired with whom, is the physical environment such that every child can maneuver around the classroom easily. We may have to think much different about who we have conversations. It means that we have to learn to collaborate with other colleges, with other professionals in the field, and definitely with professionals that represents other types of expertise, special educators, we have to talk with maybe doctors, second language specialists, and of course community members and families who know very well what the students in those populations may need."

This Critical Issue was written by Ginger Rodriguez, a Chicago-area writer and editor specializing in educational issues, in collaboration with Judy Caplan, coordinator of school and family partnerships at North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. Additional expertise was provided by Judy Harris Helm, president of Best Practices Inc., an educational consulting firm in Brimfield, Illinois.

Date posted: 1998