Teacher Profile: Heather Rodriguez

By Leila Pabst
Staff Writer | The Pacific Times

Heather Rodriguez

While starting her seventh year teaching, Heather Rodriguez is new to teaching at NP3 High School.

Rodriguez now teaches Study Skills, English 11, English 9, and AP Language and Composition.

Before beginning her teaching career, Rodriguez went to community college for two years at College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California and transferred to Fresno Pacific University where she graduated in 2015.

Growing up, English was her favorite subject. Teaching is actually her second career. “I was a dental assistant before I chose to make the change and I went into teaching because I was looking for a more fulfilling job,” said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has a passion for kids and teaching seemed like the perfect answer. While talking about why she wanted to teach, Rodriguez said, “I also had a great role model in my husband, who had been teaching and coaching for many years at the time. I figured that if he still loved  his job after twenty years, that was the kind of job I was looking for!”

Prior to working at NP3, Rodriguez worked as a dental assistant for 23 years for an oral surgeon in Tulare, California. When she graduated from college, she worked as an eighth grade teacher at Pixley Middle School for three years. Then, she began teaching high school English at Tulare Western High School for three years, up until 2021. During the pandemic, she and her husband decided to move to Sacramento, where she began teaching at NP3.

Upon moving to Sacramento, Rodriguez was in need of a job. “I applied to NP3. I had no idea at the time what an amazing school NP3 is! It was an adjustment because this school is so small, and there are no sports like a traditional school. But, I really love the culture and atmosphere NP3 has to offer,” said Rodriguez.

When asked what she likes most about NP3, Rodriguez said, “I like Advisory, and I like being able to get to know and connect with most of the students since the school is so small and  community oriented. I also love learning about the many cultures that NP3 represents. My hometown is very small and not diverse at all, so I find it so interesting to experience things like Bhangra Bash!”

Rodriguez’s hobbies include shopping and trying all of the food and experiences that Sacramento has to offer. She also loves to travel and recently went to Miami, FL over Thanksgiving Break.

Rodriguez loves anything to do with downtown Sacramento and the surrounding areas. She says, “I love trying it all.” She mentioned also that her favorite food would have to be Mexican food.