EDUCATION

Reagan High principal is tops

Reagan High principal Douglas Rodriguez was named Miami-Dade's top principal at the district's awards night.

BY KATHLEEN McGRORY

kmcgrory@MiamiHerald.com

JOHN VANBEEKUM/MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Douglas Rodriguez stands to accept the award Tuesday as his wife, Isabel, center, applauds.

Some kids dream of becoming teachers. As a kid, Douglas Rodriguez dreamed of being a principal -- and he grew up to realize it.

But he wasn't finished: Rodriguez, the top administrator at Ronald Reagan Senior High in Doral, was named Miami-Dade's Principal of the Year Tuesday night.

''I'm in shock,'' Rodriguez said after accepting the award. ``I'm extremely proud and truly honored.''

Rodriguez received the honor at the district's Education Awards for Exemplary Service gala held at Jungle Island. Teachers and school administrators packed the ballroom, some waving pompons, blowing bullhorns and shaking maracas and tambourines.

Rodriguez called his position at Reagan Senior more like living a dream than working a job.

''I'm happy to wake up every morning,'' he said. ``Honestly, I do it for the sheer enjoyment.''

A Brooklyn native, Rodriguez received his bachelor's degree from Barry University and his master's degree from Nova Southeastern. He started his career as a social studies teacher at Miami Central Senior.

Rodriguez has been Reagan Senior's only principal since it opened in 2006. The school, which has 1,430 students in grades 9 through 11, will add a 12th-grade class next year.

While Reagan Senior is still be relatively new, it has already garnered a number of accolades.

Last year, Reagan was the only non-magnet senior high school in the district to earn an A rating by the state Department of Education. The school has also boasted high attendance since its opening.

In addition to his achievements at Reagan, Rodriguez is credited with earlier sparking dramatic improvement at nearby Miami Springs Senior High.

When he first took over as principal there in 2002, Miami Springs Senior had a D rating from the state. It was severely overcrowded -- so much so, that the 3,500-plus students took classes in two shifts.

Rodriguez implemented rigorous academic standards and encouraged student achievement. He also worked to build community by implementing a Paint with the Principal project, in which volunteers helped paint the entire interior of the school.

In Rodriguez's second year as principal, Miami Springs Senior earned a C rating from the state.

The following year, it became a B-rated school.

Also at Tuesday's ceremony:

• William Aristide of John F. Kennedy Middle was named Assistant Principal of the Year.

• John Douglas Bryant of Coral Gables Senior, Sandra D. Sellers of Coral Reef Senior and Andrea McCray of Laura C. Sanders Elementary were honored for their service.