Ivelisse Santos Rodriguez
Ivelisse Santos Rodriguez is a Cohort 2 graduate and current Biology teacher at Boston Latin Academy. She completed her residency at Charlestown seven years ago and has since taught at the Urban Science Academy in West Roxbury and BLA. Ivelisse holds undergraduate degrees in Biological Sciences and Women’s Studies from Smith College. Before becoming a teacher, Ivelisse volunteered as a translator and counselor at Planned Parenthood in Northampton and Springfield, MA and in the public relations department at Planned Parenthood in Boston. She also worked as a research assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital, studying the effects of anti-epileptic drugs on birth defects. Since becoming a teacher, Ivelisse has taken on teacher leadership roles at each of the schools where she has worked, completed an Educational Leadership graduate program at Simmons College (2010), and was a Science Education Fellow during the 2010-11 school year. In addition, during the 2011-12 school year, Ivelisse will be serving as a BTR mentor for the first time. Ivelisse works closely with the Boston Science Partnership, Harvard Medical’s Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships, and the Urban Ecology Institute to broaden the learning experiences of her students outside the classroom.
Inspiration to teach:
I applied for BTR at a time during which I had become unexcited by the work I was doing as a research assistant and missed the intellectual challenge of being in the classroom. So I wanted to go back to school; do exciting, challenging work; work with others; and feel as though my job had a direct impact on the lives of others each and every day, while still working in my field (Biology). Once I started BTR, I discovered a passion for education that I didn’t know I had, and have taken pride in dedicating my life to this work ever since.
About my students:
BLA students are amazingly intelligent and wonderfully challenging. Their curiosity about how the world works makes their science classroom a place of wonder and excitement each and every day. And someday I hope each and every one of them will achieve greatness that I have only dreamed of.
About BTR:
I can’t remember if BTR spammed my e-mail, or if I clicked on a link, or if I searched for it. But I am grateful for whatever led me to apply to this program while I was completely unsure if it was what I wanted to do with my life. BTR is the best possible preparation for becoming a teacher in the Boston Public Schools, and as I watch residents excel as teachers in my own school and beyond, and some of us become mentors ourselves, and the program expands each year, I know that generations of Boston Public Schools children will benefit from exceptional teaching in our classrooms for years to come.
Favorite Thing in the World To Do:
To “geek it out.”
Random thought:
If it turns out that I am allergic to chocolate, at least I know how I’ll die, and that I’ll die happy.
Recently by Ivelisse
RSS Feed9.17.11 - BTR residents hit the ground running at BLA
It is a new year, and BTR’s 9th in our schools. This year, BTR has placed a number of residents at our beloved Boston Latin Academy. There are about 10 mentor/resident pairs now working together to bring our students the best education in this… [more]
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