Alanna Rodriguez is our new Site Coordinator at Horizon Middle School!
Growing up in Ferndale herself, in a Spanish speaking household, and on free and reduced lunch, Alanna has experience with many of the barriers students served by CIS face, and can relate to them on a personal basis. She credits much of her success and decision to pursue higher education to her mentor at Ferndale High School. As one of the only Latino identifying staff members in the district, he taught her the importance of representation, taking pride in your identity, and to defy the barriers placed on us. That experience showed her how one mentor can change the direction of a student’s life, and she hopes to have a similar effect on the students and families she serves.
After graduating from Ferndale High School, where she served as president of M.E.Ch.A., Alanna continued her education at Western Washington University, where she graduated with a Bachelors of Art in Sociology and a Certification in Social Science Data Analysis. During her time there, she became involved with the Ethnic Student Center, served as a founding executive board member for ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America), and attended other student organizations dedicated to supporting historically underrepresented communities. Through those experiences, she learned the importance of collaborating and understanding the many different histories, unique cultures, and barriers that shape each person’s experience. She hopes to bring that knowledge and lessons gained from her time at Western to better serve the students at Horizon and leave a lasting impact on their lives. She carries the same mission that every child matters and it only takes one dedicated adult to help them discover their potential and dreams.
Outside of work you can usually find Alanna riding bikes with her family, doing arts and crafts, harvesting veggies from her garden, or curled up with her two lovely cats. She is passionate about education, she is a researcher and data analyst at heart, and loves to share new findings when she gets the chance. She is excited to become part of the Horizon community and looks forward to supporting and working with students and families.