Desiree Rodriguez felt like she could make a difference for Krieger Elementary School families even before she started as assistant principal Sept. 22.
A month earlier, she took a day off from her former job in East Ramapo to attend Krieger’s orientation day.
“It was a packed house,” she said, marveling at the number of engaged families. “I was actually able to interact with the families and see what I wanted to see.”
What she saw, she said, was a population similar in demographics and needs to the Bronx, where she spent 10 years in the New York City Public Schools system as a special education coordinator.
“Here’s a place where I can give back,” she said of her impressions that day. “I can resonate with these families.”
Though still early in her time at the school, Rodriguez has jumped in to interacting with Krieger students and families, while supporting first-year principal Melissa Barrow as the school continues to settle into its new role as a grades pre-K to 2 school.
Previously, Rodriguez spent time as an English as a New Language teacher at Washingtonville High School, earning a 2024 Award for Accomplishment from their Board of Education, and last year was assistant principal at East Ramapo’s Lime Kiln Elementary School. In Poughkeepsie, she said, she saw a place with needs suited to her strengths. Krieger houses both the district’s dual language and life skills programs for the youngest age groups.
“I’m hoping to lean on her for her expertise in those areas to make sure that our students are successful,” Barrow said.
Rodriguez said she “wanted to be able to be in a space where I was able to give back to the community and also show the kids, I’m here for you.”
In the first week, she said she met each student in the life skills program. One family in those first couple days already family reached out asking how they can support their students’ individual needs. She said she sent home a token board, a tool used for behavior management and motivation for rewarding positive behaviors and building habits, and implemented it in the classroom, as well, for a holistic approach.
“I told the families and the teachers, you have to give this time. It’s not going to work with a magic wand, and you have to do it consistently,” she said. “Everyone’s open to ideas, so that always helps.”
Rodriguez said Barrow has been receptive to her ideas for how to support classroom activities. The assistant principal said she was eager to hold a meeting to hear from the school’s teachers to learn what she could do for them.
“She said, ‘Go for it,’” Rodriguez recalled, noting Barrow helped with the meeting agenda. “We have a good partnership. We’re working well together.”