Welcome Dr. Jenny Rodriquez, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
Yakima School District is excited to welcome Dr. Jenny Rodriquez as the new Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning beginning July 1, 2021, pending school board approval.
Dr. Rodriquez is passionate about preparing the next generation of students for college, career, and citizenship, as well as promoting effective practices among educators. “I am so excited to join the Yakima School District team! Supporting each of you as we work together to ensure all of our students are successful and prepared for their future is an honor.”
Dr. Rodriquez holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Washington State University, with an emphasis in organizational mindfulness. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning at Pasco School District, where her duties include leadership of all secondary schools, support for Career-Technical Education and online learning programs, and coordination across a variety of departments to ensure quality teaching and learning for all students. She is a proud WASA member and serves on the Washington State University Tri-Cities College of Education Advisory Board, the WSU GearUp Board, and is a member of the Washington Career Connect Tech pilot project team. Dr. Rodriquez has a strong background in standards-based curriculum design and grading, project-based learning, advisory programming, and social-emotional learning. She is skilled in project management, group facilitation, and systems development.
Dr. Rodriquez began in education as an elementary school secretary and has enjoyed working in a variety of roles and at every level of public education. Prior to her current position, she served as the principal at The Delta High School in the Tri-Cities, an award-winning tri-district STEM-focused program serving students from the Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland School Districts. Additionally, she taught at Ochoa Middle School and served as adjunct faculty at Washington State University (Go, Cougs!).
Dr. Rodriquez is a National Board Certified Teacher and earned numerous honors during her time as a middle school and high school teacher, along with several recognitions at the regional and state level throughout her administrative career. In her current role, she received a Pasco School District North Star Award from colleagues in recognition of her teamwork, collaboration, and tireless support and advocacy for students, staff, and families. Of all her accomplishments, Dr. Rodriquez is most proud of her family. Dr. Rodriquez and her husband will celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary this March, and they are the proud parents of two teenage daughters.
Shelby Lockhart, Executive Director of Student Achievement
The Yakima School District is proud to announce a new role for Shelby Lockhart. Mrs. Lockhart will now serve YSD as the Executive Director of Student Achievement. Along with overseeing everything data and assessment-related, Shelby will lead the district’s MTSS work and attendance initiatives.
Mrs. Lockhart was born in Selah, WA, and graduated from Naches High School. She grew up working in her family’s 1004 Sandwich Shop near Barge Lincoln Elementary School, skiing at White Pass, picking fruit, and playing soccer throughout the valley.
Mrs. Lockhart started at YSD five years ago as the Math & Science Director. She led in the Toppenish School District and the Bridgeport School District as an elementary principal.
Mrs. Lockhart is a doctoral candidate at Gonzaga University and has an M.Ed in Secondary Science Education from Antioch University of Seattle, a Public School Administrator Certificate from WSU, and a B.A. in Outdoor Education from WWU. She began her career in education leading restorative wilderness programs for incarcerated teens for Outward Bound School’s Ascent program. Her first teaching job was as a science teacher at The Nova Project High School in Seattle. She was a science teacher and instructional facilitator in the Wenatchee School District before heading into administration.
Prior to her career in education, Lockhart played for the WWU Women’s Varsity Soccer Team, worked with Seattle Youth Garden Works at UW, and led sea kayaking trips in Alaska.
Shelby loves spending time with her family, watching soccer, and traveling. She is thrilled to continue to be a part of the YSD family!
Sara Cordova, District Athletic Director
Sara Cordova, Director of Safety and Security, will serve as a part-time district-level Athletic Director for the Yakima School District.
While Sara is in her 24th year of working in education, with 19 of those years with the Yakima School District, her first love has always been athletics. As a middle school and high school student, she competed in various sports including basketball, volleyball, and track. After high school, she attended and graduated from Seattle Pacific University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and began teaching first grade in her hometown of Harrah in the Mt. Adams School District. After 4 years of teaching, she was hired as a kindergarten teacher at Roosevelt Elementary in the Yakima School District. She completed her Master’s Degree in Professional Development from Heritage University and was given the opportunity to serve as the assistant principal at Barge Lincoln Elementary, where she served for 6 years. While at Barge Lincoln, Sara began her work with safety, serving as a member of the Yakima School District Safety Committee and helping to develop safety plans for both her school and the district.
Following her time at Barge-Lincoln, Sara worked as assistant principal at Washington Middle School. While working at Washington, in addition to her other roles as an administrator, Sara worked as Washington Middle School’s Athletic Director for five years, collaborating with other AD’s, coaches, student-athletes and community organizations to provide middle school students in Yakima with opportunities in athletics. Sara continued her work on the YSD Safety Committee, served as a member of the district’s Threat Assessment Panel, served as a co-facilitator for the district’s I-Jag team, and has collaborated with Yakima School District School Resource Officers. Sara has had extensive training in PBIS and character education.
Sara and her husband, Jonathan, live in Yakima and are the parents of one daughter and three sons. She and her family love to travel anywhere warm!
Sara is excited to continue her position as the Director of Safety and Security and begin her new role of District Athletic Director. She plans to continue the great work that has already begun, and further promote Yakima School District Athletics to the highest achieving program in our region.
