Florida Choice Resource Center

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Our friend and colleague Dr. Carlo Rodriguez, a great advocate for school children throughout the nation, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 22, 2007.

Carlo Rodriguez

Carlo came to the United State from Cuba in 1987 and had a meteoric rise from learning English at Miami-Dade College to becoming a teacher (he was a finalist for the national Sallie Mae Teacher of the Year) to administrator in the Miami-Dade school district. Carlo was the administrative director of the charter operations of the Miami-Dade Public Schools. He was also an administrator in bilingual and exceptional student education for the school district. Last year, he assumed the leadership of the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, expanding his work beyond charter schools to also include scholarship programs, virtual schools, supplemental educational services, home schools and a range of additional choice options. He was an advocate for all forms of school choice for parents and children.

Carlo also served on the National Board of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) and he continued to support NACSA’s work in Florida from his position with the Department. His work on school choice included the position as President- Elect of the Florida Public School Choice Consortium (FPSCC). This “grass roots” state organization of choice district professionals was started by Carlo, Donnie Evans of Hillsborough School District and Connie Scotchel-Gross of Palm Beach County. He was the cheerleader for this fledging organization, attended every meeting and his contributions went far beyond thoughtful and passionate advocacy. The poster on the website is of Carlo with Nina Shokaii Rees former secretary of the Department of Innovation and Improvement of the USDOE who he brought to Florida for the Magnet summer conference in Tampa. He was a fighter for justice and the under-dog. He fought the tough, day-to-day struggle inside large, difficult school systems, working tirelessly to expand quality school choice options for children.

Carlo lived life fully. He was full of ideas. The new Charter School minor for the doctoral program at Nova Southeastern University, Fischler School of Education and Human Services was his idea. The state wide Parent Advisory Council was his idea as was the Parent Information Fair to be held as part of a Choice Summit for Florida. Carlo was always there—prodding us to action for kids and parents.

His contributions to school choice in Florida and the nation will stand as an example to all. His wise council and his bright smile will be forever missed.

Florida School Choice Home About Florida School Choice Resource Center Public School Choice Options Parent Resource Center Educator Resources District Resources Choice Newsletter Online Training Legislative Corner Upcoming Events Contact Us		Dear Friends and Colleagues, Our friend and colleague Dr. Carlo Rodriguez, a great advocate for school children throughout the nation, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 22, 2007. Carlo came to the United State from Cuba in 1987 and had a meteoric rise from learning English at Miami-Dade College to becoming a teacher (he was a finalist for the national Sallie Mae Teacher of the Year) to administrator in the Miami-Dade school district. Carlo was the administrative director of the charter operations of the Miami-Dade Public Schools. He was also an administrator in bilingual and exceptional student education for the school district. Last year, he assumed the leadership of the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, expanding his work beyond charter schools to also include scholarship programs, virtual schools, supplemental educational services, home schools and a range of additional choice options. He was an advocate for all forms of school choice for parents and children. Carlo also served on the National Board of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) and he continued to support NACSA’s work in Florida from his position with the Department. His work on school choice included the position as President- Elect of the Florida Public School Choice Consortium (FPSCC). This “grass roots” state organization of choice district professionals was started by Carlo, Donnie Evans of Hillsborough School District and Connie Scotchel-Gross of Palm Beach County. He was the cheerleader for this fledging organization, attended every meeting and his contributions went far beyond thoughtful and passionate advocacy. The poster on the website is of Carlo with Nina Shokaii Rees former secretary of the Department of Innovation and Improvement of the USDOE who he brought to Florida for the Magnet summer conference in Tampa. He was a fighter for justice and the under-dog. He fought the tough, day-to-day struggle inside large, difficult school systems, working tirelessly to expand quality school choice options for children. Carlo lived life fully. He was full of ideas. The new Charter School minor for the doctoral program at Nova Southeastern University, Fischler School of Education and Human Services was his idea. The state wide Parent Advisory Council was his idea as was the Parent Information Fair to be held as part of a Choice Summit for Florida. Carlo was always there—prodding us to action for kids and parents. His contributions to school choice in Florida and the nation will stand as an example to all. His wise council and his bright smile will be forever missed.