The first full week of May is designated as Licensed Employee Appreciation Week. At Clackamas ESD alone, we have at least 20 types of licensed jobs, with many variations in those positions. These are people who have completed higher education and earned licenses to be certified to teach students, lead continuing education training for staff, serve as social skills specialists, and provide speech, physical and occupational therapy within Clackamas ESD programs and the school districts we serve.
This Licensed Employee Appreciation Week, we’re highlighting a few of our approximately 180 licensed staff members to provide a peek into the diverse ways this large group of employees lives our mission of service. We appreciate our entire licensed team and the meaningful work they do.
Ozzy Rodriguez is a specialist in Clackamas Education Service District’s early intervention/early childhood special education program. He supports preschool children in inclusive classrooms that serve both typically developing children and those who qualify for special education services. His work focuses on helping children build critical developmental skills while partnering closely with classroom staff and families to ensure every child receives the support they need to thrive.
At the heart of Ozzy’s work is a deep commitment to inclusion, compassion and cultural responsiveness. In his role at the Gladstone Teaching Preschool, a collaborative program between Clackamas ESD and the Gladstone School District designed as an inclusive setting where all children can learn and grow together, Ozzy brings a strengths-based approach to his work with the students who need extra support in areas such as communication, and cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive or motor development. The inclusive setting allows all children to learn and grow together, and Ozzy plays a vital role in ensuring every student feels seen, understood and valued.
“Children who are communicating at a developmentally appropriate level make great role models,” Ozzy explains. “Their peers can imitate their words, actions, even body language, which is so helpful for kids still learning how to connect socially. It’s great for typically developing peers, too. They learn how to support and include others, and they build their empathy while doing so.”
Ozzy plays a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging, helping students with special needs become fully integrated in the classroom community. Through strategies like using visuals to support communication and modeling turn-taking, Ozzy helps students develop essential skills they can use to engage in play with their peers. He collaborates with school staff to create consistent, supportive strategies for each child, consulting with the classroom team to reflect on what’s working and brainstorm solutions for daily challenges.
“Our goal is to support kids where they’re at and ensure that they’re growing and learning and having a great time doing it,” Ozzy says.
Ozzy’s work extends far beyond the classroom. He builds strong, trusting relationships with families, particularly Spanish-speaking families in the Gladstone community. Through regular home visits, Ozzy offers families receiving home services individualized guidance, suggesting ways to support their child’s development using the materials and routines already in place at home. Whether working with families or staff, Ozzy’s approach is guided by his belief that supporting a child’s growth starts with seeing their intentions in a positive light.
“Sometimes I hear people use harsh language to describe a child’s behavior, like saying a five-year-old is being abusive, but really, the child is just trying to play or express a need they don’t know how to communicate yet. That kind of labeling can stick with kids as they grow, which is why I try to help both teachers and parents see the good in their children’s day,” Ozzy reflects.
Ozzy’s dedication to education started early. As a middle schooler, he began volunteering with a program called Hats Off to Reading in his neighborhood, which led to him volunteering at a pre-kindergarten program for four years. His passion continued into high school, where he completed his senior project on becoming an educator.
Ozzy began his career in education as an educational assistant at a Clackamas County Children’s Commission Head Start class while earning his associate’s degree in early childhood education at Clackamas Community College, followed by his bachelor’s degree at Portland State University. During this time, he accompanied the Spanish-speaking family of one of his students to their child’s evaluation at Clackamas ESD to help translate. Witnessing the care, collaboration and impact of early intervention firsthand inspired him to pivot to early childhood special education, and he joined Clackamas ESD in 2015 as an educational assistant. His passion for the work quickly grew and inspired him to return to school to earn a master’s degree in early intervention/early childhood special education and become an EI/ECSE specialist.
“I realized there weren’t many people who looked like me doing this work,” Ozzy says. “Not many men. Not many Spanish speakers. And I thought, this is such an important field to be part of. These families need someone who understands them.”
