AUTOCRATIC SPECIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR DESPISED BY STAFF

By Juan Montoya
Part 2: The Bad, the Ugly

Autocratic. Arrogant. Abusive.
Those are just three words that the employees at the Special Services Dept. use to describe director Dr. Sandra I. Rodriguez.
And there are 26 more letters left in the alphabet.

Insiders say that Rodriguez is the director of Special Services because trustee Joe "Coach" Rodriguez struck a deal with Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas to place her there as a favor to one of the coaches who is his buddy, one Ronnie Rodriguez, no relation. In return, they say, Dr. Rodriguez has instituted cost-cutting measures that will leave a sizable amount of cash to be returned to the general fund which will be used to pay for the new $1.4 million scoreboard "Coach Joe" pushed through the board.

But what Big Joe and Zendejas didn't count on was the arrogant streak of the new director who feels that as long as she has Joe and Esperanza in her corner, she has carte blanche to do as she pleases and that anything goes. That includes lording it over the staff and other employees in the department. Not only are services to special needs student given the short shrift, but morale there is at an at al-time low.

Take for example, the fact that she has moved her executive secretary across the building because she claimed her perfume offended her and that she stinks. Some staff members say that she repeatedly belittles her in public and threatens to have her reassigned and written up. In one instance, they say, she ridiculed her for wearing a pant suit she likened to pajamas and sent her crying to her office.

Then there was the case of the custodian that she directed to place a Christmas garland over head and when the woman climbed the ladder at her direction, she fell and broker her arm. Rodriguez denied she had ordered the custodian to hang the garland even though at least a handful of employees heard her do it. The custodian was out of work for seven weeks without pay because Rodriguez insisted that climbing ladders was not part of her duties. It is said that the employees who witnesses this abuse are more than willing to testify on the custodian's behalf.

At a recent meeting with BISD Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction Bertha Peña, Rodriguez tried to blame the staff for the department's disarray and low morale. Peña heard more than 30 department employees voice their discontent at the way the department is being run under Rodriguez. At least that many have signed on with the Texas Valley Educators Association to be part of the grievance against Rodriguez.

After the meeting, Peña told them that Zendejas would be getting back to them to hear their complaints. But if what happened when a young employee spoke out at the meeting is any indication of the superintendent's response, there is little hope for a resolution. When the young man spoke, he was escorted from the room by security and when he tried to speak with Zendejas, he was told she was too busy to meet with him.

"Being singled out and made fun of in front of staff is a daily occurrence," said one. "It was suggested by one employee for them to get the camera feed so they can see and hear what is happening at Special Services. We would all love to see that footage."

Department employees fell that the board and the administration has abandoned them to their fate under autocratic Rodriguez. Even parents, they say, have noticed the lack of administration' support of their mission to educate for special needs kids.

"The parents noticed and commented that not one main office person took the time to come offer support during the AU conference held April 13 at CAB, not even to say hello," said a staff member. "It is sad to see the board members all over the Internet, Facebook and the Herald with general education kids, but when it comes to special education events, they are too busy. It was very insulting to the parents as well as the staff."

Next: Part 3: Special Services, a Raisin in the Sun...