Roberto Rodríguez brings extensive policy leadership, expertise, and lifelong commitment to advancing educational equity and opportunity. His distinguished career in public service includes senior government roles across two presidential administrations, on the White House Domestic Policy Council, and in the U.S. Senate for the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). His dedication to education began by elevating the voices of Latino families, students and educators. Over the past two decades, he has played a key role in virtually every major education policy effort and legislative reform at the national level. Twice appointed by President Barack Obama as Special Assistant and Deputy Assistant to the President for Education, Rodríguez developed and led the Obama Administration’s signature education initiatives across federal agencies. In these roles, he crafted proposals to expand early education; support the adoption of college and career-ready standards in schools; and increase college access and affordability. Rodríguez guided the Administration’s reforms of the student loan program, increases in the Pell Grant, and support for community colleges. In 2015, his work with bipartisan Congressional leaders resulted in the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act. Rodríguez’s service on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee from 2001-2009 led to the successful bipartisan passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, the Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. Rodríguez is currently President and CEO of Teach Plus, a national non-profit organization dedicated to elevating teacher leadership and voices to advance educational equity. The son of public school educators, his parents and grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico. Rodríguez grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a M.Ed. from Harvard University. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.
| Types | Person |
| Gender | Male |