RE Log - Fall 2023

FALL 2023 Ransom Everglades LOG 7 As a newly admitted sixth grader, Mya Wright ’17 marveled that Rachel Rodriguez, then head of the middle school, addressed every student by name. She appreciated the sincerity of Rodriguez’s effort to welcome everyone. “She made me feel like I was meant to be there, and that success was available to me,” Wright said. Then came the day in eighth grade that Wright’s single mother suffered a stroke. That afternoon, Rodriguez summoned Wright from class to share the news: Her mother had been admitted to the hospital and wouldn’t be coming home for a while. Until her mother had recovered, Rodriguez explained, Wright would stay with a middle school faculty member for several days, then move into a spare bedroom in Rodriguez’s house. “That day turned my whole life upside down,” recalled Wright, who attended Mount Holyoke on an academic scholarship and earned a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in statistics. “But she stepped into action. I didn’t even have to worry about it. She made sure I had a support system immediately … She was a necessary presence for me to thrive and survive.” On June 9, 2023, Rodriguez was named permanent Head of School at Ransom Everglades after a year as interim head of school. She also served 14 years as Head of the Middle School and two as Assistant Head of the Middle School. When RE Chair of the Board Jonathan Fitzpatrick P’20 ’23 announced the decision to the Ransom Everglades community, he noted that it followed a review of more than 200 candidates identified in an international search. The search committee and trustees, he said, agreed unanimously. “Mrs. Rodriguez has 17 years of experience with RE, works tirelessly for our students and broader community, and is deeply committed to the long-term success of RE,” Fitzpatrick said. “We know she will always do what’s best for our school and students.” Along with many other members of the RE community, Wright, now a PhD student at the University of Miami, greeted the news with elation. “To see that kind of person leading our school is so important,” Wright said. “You need someone equitable and fair to all; it’s what our school needs to cultivate the brightest and the best. She stepped in not only as an adult, but as a mother figure; she took me under her wing. She wanted to make sure no student was left behind. That speaks volumes about her character. You have to be the best to lead the best.” Making RE a Welcoming Place RE’s new Head of School brings kindness, empathy and a relentless work ethic