Sadie Rodriguez, 27
Early Head Start Director | DDI Vantage
What are you most proud of in your career thus far?
Working in nonprofits, funding is always an issue. Many early childhood programs serve hundreds of children with just one behavior specialist or none at all, which often leads to children being excluded because staff lack the tools to support them. Children served by nonprofits are often from vulnerable, trauma-impacted communities, making them more susceptible to challenging behaviors. This is why it’s so important to have a system in place that empowers staff and ensures every child receives quality support.
Because we can’t always hire more staff, the most effective way to provide quality support is through knowledge. I helped develop a simplified behavior support framework, along with practical, bilingual (English and Spanish) trainings that bring structure and consistency to every classroom. This framework equips all staff to confidently respond to challenging behaviors, collect behavior data, and foster an inclusive environment where every child can thrive.
I also developed community partnerships and relationships so that if a child has an identified need, I can connect them with someone and get them at the top of long waitlists. By combining structured systems, staff empowerment and community collaboration, I turn limited resources into meaningful impact, ensuring that even the most vulnerable children receive the support they deserve.
Was there a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today?
Abandonment trauma in my early years manifested as anxiety and selective mutism. Though I had the ability to speak, anxiety held my voice back. I communicated only with those I felt safe with, leaving the little girl I was feeling unseen. In 2017, I became a therapeutic preschool specialist, working with children who reminded me of myself, often misunderstood or overlooked. That’s when I discovered my purpose: to give every child a voice, a chance to be seen, and a place where they truly belong. Throughout my career, I’ve faced doubt, been silenced, and had people give up on me, but I continue to use my voice in honor of the little girl I once was.
