Catalog ID:
ORH-006-0001
Creator:
Rodriguez, Roberto
Archives Field 21:
AUDIO Click to Play
Scope & Content:
In this oral history interview, conducted on June 6, 2023, at the Bridgeport History Center in the Bridgeport Public Library, retired educator Roberto Rodriguez details his journey from Puerto Rico to Bridgeport, Connecticut, having been recruited in 1977 from the Department of Education in Puerto Rico to support Bridgeport's newly instituted bilingual education program.
Born August 9, 1936 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and raised in Gurabo, Rodriguez obtained his bachelors in Elementary Education in 1958 and his first master's degree in guidance counseling in 1967. Rodriguez then began his career as an educator in his hometown of Gurabo, Puerto Rico at Gurabo High School. From there, Rodriguez was recruited to work at the Department of Education in Puerto Rico, as the director of Migrant Education. While there, he was sent to take courses at Michigan State University and eventually obtained a second master's degree in School Administrative Supervision (he estimates in 1973 or 1974).
From there, after the PNP came into power in Puerto Rico (Partido Nuevo Progresista - pro-statehood party) in 1976, and Rodriguez's boss was fired, a Puerto Rican education director in Hartford interviewed Rodriguez for a position in Hartford schools. While interviewing in 1977, an unknown Bridgeport representative convinced him to come to Bridgeport instead, which he did a year later in 1978. He also discusses a brief stint in the 1980s as director (or as he puts it, "troubleshooter") for the Department of Welfare for two years while retaining his duties as the principal of Waltersville Elementary School.
He remained principal of Waltersville until his retirement in 1999, collaborating extensively with the Parents Advisory Council in ensuring the physical and social needs of students (hosting clothing drives; planning trips to go pumpkin picking; etc.). Rodriguez also shares fond memories of his late wife, Milagros, herself the vice principal of Central High School in Bridgeport, and his children and grandchildren.
(NOTE: Rodriguez doesn't tell his story linearly - he begins with the process of being recruited to work in Bridgeport, then discusses his work with the Department of Welfare, before discussing his life in Puerto Rico and his family today)
Born August 9, 1936 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and raised in Gurabo, Rodriguez obtained his bachelors in Elementary Education in 1958 and his first master's degree in guidance counseling in 1967. Rodriguez then began his career as an educator in his hometown of Gurabo, Puerto Rico at Gurabo High School. From there, Rodriguez was recruited to work at the Department of Education in Puerto Rico, as the director of Migrant Education. While there, he was sent to take courses at Michigan State University and eventually obtained a second master's degree in School Administrative Supervision (he estimates in 1973 or 1974).
From there, after the PNP came into power in Puerto Rico (Partido Nuevo Progresista - pro-statehood party) in 1976, and Rodriguez's boss was fired, a Puerto Rican education director in Hartford interviewed Rodriguez for a position in Hartford schools. While interviewing in 1977, an unknown Bridgeport representative convinced him to come to Bridgeport instead, which he did a year later in 1978. He also discusses a brief stint in the 1980s as director (or as he puts it, "troubleshooter") for the Department of Welfare for two years while retaining his duties as the principal of Waltersville Elementary School.
He remained principal of Waltersville until his retirement in 1999, collaborating extensively with the Parents Advisory Council in ensuring the physical and social needs of students (hosting clothing drives; planning trips to go pumpkin picking; etc.). Rodriguez also shares fond memories of his late wife, Milagros, herself the vice principal of Central High School in Bridgeport, and his children and grandchildren.
(NOTE: Rodriguez doesn't tell his story linearly - he begins with the process of being recruited to work in Bridgeport, then discusses his work with the Department of Welfare, before discussing his life in Puerto Rico and his family today)
Interviewer:
Interviewed by Amdanda Rivera
Dates of Creation:
2023-06-06
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