Takiyah Rodriguez of Ft. Sam Houston ISD was surprised with the KENS 5 EXCEL Award and a $2,000 check from Credit Human.
SAN ANTONIO — SAN ANTONIO- A Fort Sam Houston ISD teacher who has dedicated more than two decades to helping students with special needs is this week’s KENS 5 EXCEL Award winner.
Takiyah Rodriguez, a secondary special education teacher with the Military School Districts’ Cooperative in Fort Sam Houston ISD, was recognized for her commitment to helping students build emotional and behavioral skills alongside academics.
Rodriguez, is in her third year at the campus, where she works with students who need additional emotional and behavioral support before transitioning back to their home campuses.
Teaching for Ms. Rodriguez was more of a calling and one that she leaned into since she was in grade school.
She said helping students grow both emotionally and academically has been the most rewarding part of her career.
“It’s very rewarding to be able to give students those social emotional skills that they need, the behavioral skills that they need,” EXCEL Award winner Takiyah Rodriguez said. “And once we establish that, then we focus on academics. And I’ve seen students soar.”
Rodriguez has spent 23 years in education, all focused on special education. She said she has always had a heart for students who need extra understanding and care.
Her administrators say her impact is evident in the success of her students and the atmosphere inside her classroom.
“She’s so respected by her peers,” Fort Sam Houston ISD, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, Dr. Mina Schnitta said. “When you go into her classroom, it is a classroom full of just joy. The kids are safe. And the kids she serves, they have high needs and she meets every one of their needs.”
Fort Sam Houston ISD,Special Education Director, Saleha Sultan, said Rodriguez’s students thrive because she prioritizes their emotional well-being first.
“The students respond so positively because she addresses their social and emotional well-being, their safety, and then builds on their academics,” Sultan said. “Her students outperform students in regular gen-ed classrooms.”
As part of the EXCEL Award, Rodriguez also received $2,000 from KENS 5 partner Credit Human in recognition of her work in the classroom.
When asked what she planned to do with the money, Rodriguez joked that it would go toward gas expenses.