At the Thursday regular school board meeting, trustees appointed Larry Rodriquez as the new principal of Patti Welder Middle School, a personalized learning choice campus, for the 2022-2023 school year.
Rodriquez has nearly two decades of educational experience in the classroom and as a campus administrator. Most recently, Rodriquez served as an assistant principal at Victoria West High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in humanities in secondary English and history and a Master of Science in educational leadership and supervision from the University of Houston-Victoria.
“I am excited to be joining the talented staff at Patti Welder Middle School,” said Rodriquez. “I believe it’s an honor to have the opportunity to work in a community school with such a rich history, and I look forward to serving the needs of students and staff.”
In 2020, Patti Welder was awarded a $750,000 grant over three years to become a personalized learning campus. Personalized learning campuses exist to prepare every student to pursue college and/or a career program in high school with the academic and social knowledge and skills to succeed. Patti Welder is a one-to-one campus where a technology-enhanced instructional strategy further allows students to choose the path, pace, time and modality in which they receive instruction. Patti Welder is also a Math Innovation Zone campus.
In addition to leading the personalized learning campus, Rodriguez’s primary duties will include directing and managing instruction programs and supervising operations at a campus level, providing leadership to ensure high standards of instructional service, overseeing compliance with district policies, the success of instructional programs, and operating all campus activities.
Rodriquez will replace Natalie Abrameit.
“Mr. Rodriquez’s positive outlook and passion for building relationships with students and staff will positively impact Patti Welder Middle School, said Executive Director of Secondary Student Learning and Talent Development Jake Salcines. “As Patti Welder fully implements the personalized learning grant across the campus, Mr. Rodriquez’s skill set will benefit both students and staff.”
