Leadership ISD Heroes: Oscar Rodriguez ('18)

Across Texas, our Leadership ISD COVID Heroes continue their commitment to equity and excellence for our students. Their commitment inspires us to continue to lean into this work, knowing that while the road ahead is long, the destination is worth our time and energy. Check out this week's LISD Heroes below!

Oscar Rodriguez

Dallas County, Class of 2018

Director, Dallas ISD

LISD: WHAT ARE YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY DOING TO RESPOND TO COVID-19?

Oscar Rodriguez (OR): Dallas ISD's Student Transportation department responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by partnering with our Food and Child Nutrition services to provide meals to students and their families that were unable to access the distributions sites. The initial scope of the project was to focus on meals for our homeless students and their families but expanded once it was clear that non-homeless families also had similar challenges.

We currently operate up to twelve sites across the city and deliver meals to students and their families directly or through partnership with community organizations.

LISD:  HOW HAS LEADERSHIP ISD PREPARED YOU FOR THIS MOMENT?

OR: Leadership ISD prepared me to consider and understand the various stakeholders and individuals that are involved in representing a community. While as a district representative, we may have some information on what is needed, but engaging with community stakeholders and community organizations validates assumptions and provide additional context to meeting the needs of students.

LISD: WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHERS WHO WANT TO TAKE ACTION IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS? 

OR: The best advice to those that would like to act and support during this time is to be responsive and open to what communities need as opposed to what you would like to give. Focus on long term engagement and capacity building versus transnational forms of support since many of our communities were already in need before the crisis.

LISD: WHAT CAN OTHERS DO TO EITHER SUPPORT YOUR WORK OR GET ENGAGED? 

OR: My recommendation would be to identify opportunities in your own local community and support local efforts to address issues and concerns. I would also recommend listening to what individuals, community organizations, and other stakeholders have to say about their needs and how they frame the challenges they face before deciding on a course of action.