Page 6 - Heroes In Education Program for Flip_Neat

Juan Rodriguez

Arts Teacher of the Year
Robert Frost Middle School

Mr. Juan Rodriguez is a proud graduate of the Music Academy at Alexander Hamilton
High School and a product of the Los Angeles Unified School District. He earned his
Bachelor's Degree and Teaching Credential from California State University, Northridge,
where he was an active performer with the CSUN Jazz Ensembles and Wind Ensembles, specializing in Bass
Trombone.

Mr. Rodriguez began his teaching career in 2007 at Robert Frost Middle School, where he now serves as
Instrumental Music Director. He revived the program after a six-year hiatus during which the school's
instruments had been redistributed. He managed to recover about half of the original inventory, enough to
launch a beginning band of 40 students and a strings class of 30, successfully rebuilding a thriving program.

The 2024–2025 school year marks Mr. Rodriguez’s 18th year at Frost. Under his leadership, the program has
grown steadily, with student participation consistently exceeding 300 in recent years. His teaching portfolio
includes Jazz Ensemble, Mariachi Los Lobos, Advanced Band, Advanced String Orchestra, Intermediate Band,
Intermediate String Orchestra, Beginning Band, Beginning Orchestra, Philharmonic, and Music Appreciation.

Outside of Frost, Mr. Rodriguez is in his second term as the Past President of the Los Angeles Secondary
Music Teachers Association. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he was honored with the 2022
Shining Star Music Educator Award by Education Through Music – Los Angeles.

Mr. Rodriguez is happily married to Julissa Rodriguez. Together, they are the proud parents of three wonderful
children: Jazzlyn (7), Israel (5), and Elias (2).

Claudia Alvarado

P.E. Teacher of the Year
Sven Lokrantz Special Education Center

Claudia proudly dedicates her award to her mother, Dina Emilia Salguero, who
sparked her career with LAUSD by handing her a tutoring job application in 1999.
The application was for a literacy tutoring job at Plummer Elementary. Little did
Claudia know that would lead her towards a magical and fulfilling career path.After
two years of tutoring, Claudia became a teacher’s assistant at Liggett Elementary and later a special
education assistant at Vista Middle School. Her time as a one-on-one aide for students with Autism
introduced her to Adapted Physical Education (APE), inspiring her to earn a Kinesiology degree from CSUN.

Now an APE teacher, Claudia is dedicated to ensuring all students—regardless of physical, cognitive, or
emotional challenges—have access to physical activities that promote health, fitness, and social growth.
Her passion for expanding student experiences has led to memorable field trips, including visits to LACMA,
a boat ride in Marina Del Rey, and climbing adventures at a local gym. Claudia strives to create a safe,
empowering environment where her students can grow and excel, believing deeply in the transformative
power of inclusion and movement.