Collins Middle School’s Johanna Rodriguez ‘10 Honored by Latinos for Education
Ms. Rodriguez presented the Latino Educators Shine Award at State House
SALEM (June 3, 2025) – Johanna Rodriguez, a City Connects Coordinator at the Collins Middle School, was presented with the Latino Educators Who Shine Award from Latinos For Education Wednesday, May 28, at a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House.
A member of the Salem High School Class of 2010, Ms. Rodriguez was honored alongside Ana Brea, a Spanish language educator at Salem Academy. Both Ms. Rogriguez and Ms. Brea were nominated by Senator Joan Lovely (2nd Essex District) and State Representative Manny Cruz ‘10 (7th Essex District).
“I am so proud to have joined Senator Lovely to recognize my dear friend and classmate Mrs. Johanna Rodriguez at the Latino Educators Who Shine event hosted Latinos for Education at the State House,” said Rep. Cruz. “As a social worker, educator, and community leader, Johanna has been a relentless advocate for the social welfare of all of the children of Salem. We are so fortunate to have Mrs. Rodriguez serving the children of the Salem Public Schools and I would ask our entire community to join us in congratulating her on her well deserved recognition.”
“Congratulations to Johanna on being recognized as an outstanding Latino educator,” said Senator Lovely. “This award is a testament to the work Johanna does in our classrooms, bringing unique perspective and experience into our classrooms, strengthening our schools and our community.”
The Latino Educators Who Shine Award honors Latino educators who are nominated by their state legislators for outstanding work in and out of the classroom.
“It is very special,” said Ms. Rodriguez, in her second year as a City Connects coordinator at CMS. “As someone who grew up in Salem and now works in Salem Public Schools, to be recognized for the work I do, it is very sweet. I’ve come full circle.”
Prior to returning to SPS, Ms. Rodriguez spent more than four years at Plummer Youth Promise as a permanency social worker and later as a residency clinician. In between, she served as a school adjustment counselor at the Bentley Academy Innovation School and as a patient access representative at Beverly Hospital.
It was her time at BAIS in which she became aware and interested in the City Connects role at SPS.
“I love how I get to do different things every day,” said. Ms Rodriguez. “I meet with students. I meet with parents. I facilitate meetings with teachers and discuss how we can be supporting our students better in the classroom. I love how different every day is and the collaboration with all the different roles. I’m so happy this is the role I ended up in.”
Ms. Rodriguez received her associates degree in liberal arts from North Shore Community College in 2012, and her undergraduate degree in human services from Northeastern University in 2015. She went on to earn her master’s degree in social work from Salem State University in 2019.
Ms. Rodriguez and her husband Francis Santos ‘08 live in Salem with their daughter, Valerie, a second grader at the Carlton Innovation School, and three-year-old son Jariel.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
