LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Shannon Rodriguez

Position: Counselor
School: Bryan Adams High School Leadership Academy
School District: Dallas ISD
City, State: Dallas, TX

Support Shannon Leave a comment Get Updates

Shannon Rodriguez is the kind of high school counselor who every parent wants for their child. She has a rare blend of commitment, compassion, clarity, and calm that serves her students and co-workers well. This year, Ms. Rodriguez has a caseload of approximately 600 freshmen. Despite this large number, she has never turned away a student, parent, or staff member needing guidance or assistance. No matter what happens, Ms. Rodriguez remains even-keeled and steadfast as she deals with whatever may come her way in a given day.

As a school counselor, Ms. Rodriguez is not only bound by the laws and ethical standards established by the State, the Texas Education Agency, and Dallas ISD, but she must also adhere to the American School Counselor Association Code of Ethics. Additionally, her commitment to her students' success - academically and personally - drives her as she does her job with fidelity and integrity.

Beyond working directly on behalf of the students assigned to her, Ms. Rodriguez is always the first person on her team to offer help to others. She has led faculty and staff in implementing a new Social/Emotional Learning program, and serves as her school's liaison to a nearby community college to provide dual credit classes at Bryan Adams. Last year, her passion for helping students go to college resulted in her planning and implementing the largest UCommit FAFSA event ever held in Dallas ISD.

This paragraph from Kahlil Gibran's book The Prophet sums up Ms. Rodriguez's approach to her work with everyone around her:

"And what is it to work with love?

It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.

It is to build a house with affection, as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.

It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.

It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit."

Ms. Rodriguez really is a LifeChanger!

526 562 584 538 449

Comments (11)

Dr Karen Chapman Posted over a year ago

I've known ms Rodriguez for most of her life. She has been and is one of the kindness people I know. Years ago when she was in college instead of going on spring break she chose to go to a Lakota Indian reservation with others to provide assistance to those in need. She also spent time in Mississippi with other Vanderbuilt students helping others whose homes needed repairs.Wonderful human!

Kelley Hurst Posted over a year ago

I am preparing for Senior year with the last of my three kids. We have had LOTS of school counselors, and Shannon is by far the best one we ever had. Shannon not only knows her stuff backwards and forwards but she has a heart for her students and their parents. Her calm disposition and clear grasp of all the district's policies and options are graced by the fact that she is also the mother of teenagers, and she makes a parent know that she is in the trenches with us. She is a gem and we miss her sorely at Lake Highlands.

Christen Armer Posted over a year ago

Shannon Rodriguez is a wonderful counselor in that she goes above and beyond! Mrs. Rodriguez has reached out to my sons, neither of whom are her actual assigned students, to make them aware of programs and upcoming events that she believes might be opportunites for them. It amazed me that she specifically made them aware of some wonderful programs that they would have otherwise not known about. This is only one example of her interacting with students by focusing on their individual needs and interests! She is a dedicated and loyal counselor to many!

Lee Chapman Posted over a year ago

As a retired educator and the proud father of Ms. Rodriguez I am extremely pleased to see that she has become such a talented educator. It is truly rewarding to know what a significant difference she is making with her students and their families. Great work Shannon............ You make us proud!

Susan Kranmas Posted over a year ago

Mrs. Rodriguez has a big heart. She's the best!!

Ryan Rodriguez Posted over a year ago

Best mom anybody could ever ask for, no matter what is going on she remains calm and thinks of a fix. She will never let you down

Veta Parker. Posted over a year ago

I worked with Mrs. Rodriguez for many years as a counselor. She was always calm under pressure and loved by her students. In addition, she was helpful to her colleagues especially when we needed her help with translating to parents or students.

Molly Tait Posted over a year ago

As a colleague, Shannon met the daily challenges of the school counselors day with humor, compassion and professionalism with her students, parents, and peers.

Paula Moore Posted over a year ago

Shannon Rodriguez is clam, cool, and collected. She works well with both her students and parents. She's not one to get overly excited, yet she responds in a way that is helpful and calming.

Beth Wing Posted over a year ago

Ms. Rodriguez has gone the extra mile to use her expertise and efforts to send countless first generation students to college. She tailors her support for individual students matching them with the best pathway to success.

Mrs. McLaughlin Posted over a year ago

I couldn't agree more! As a colleague of Mrs. Rodriguez, I can verify all of this to be true!! She has changed and impacted the lives of so many students, at all grade levels, because of her tenacity and goal-oriented mindset. I admire her work ethic and strive to be excellent like her at all times :)