(DESCRIPTION)
A young man in a graduation cap and gown. Text, Jose "Pepe" Rodriquez.

(SPEECH)
[MUSIC PLAYING]

NARRATOR: Jose Rodriguez spoke no English when he came to this country. Through adult education, Jose earned his GEB and became a US citizen. After working in an Adult School as a teacher's assistant, Jose found his love of teaching and has gone on to earn his BA and master's in education.

JOSE RODRIGUEZ:

(DESCRIPTION)
Jose "Pepe" Rodriguez

(SPEECH)
I started-- I worked for a couple of months with the-- in California fields at Santa Maria picking up strawberries, something that I hardly have good memories about. But then I noticed those people getting the respect and the things that they wanted by going to school, by learning English. And, of course, I was young. And I would say this is true, sounds like a joke. But I always noticed that those people, or young guys like me, who spoke English, would get the best jobs, normally, would get the boss to listen to them, and also get the best girls, you know? So I said, you know, I need to learn English. You know, that was another good incentive.

(DESCRIPTION)
Elaine Sunoo, Instructor, Jefferson Adult School

(SPEECH)
ELANIE SUNOO: But the drive he has, the integrity. He's a hard worker. He to be. He had a dream, and he never gave up on it.

SUE DANIELS:

(DESCRIPTION)
Sue Daniels, Retired ESL/Academic Instructor

(SPEECH)
Jose started. He had come out of the ESL branch. He finished his ESL classes. He was a parking lot attendant at the school. And he was also enrolled in my class, taking classes for his high school diploma.

JAN BRITTAIN:

(DESCRIPTION)
Jan Brittain, Retired Principal, Jefferson Adult School

(SPEECH)
When I arrived at [INAUDIBLE] Jefferson, he had already completed his ESL academic and had gotten his diploma and was in college. So they had hired him as a TA.

JOSE RODRIGUEZ:

(DESCRIPTION)
Jose

(SPEECH)
So I became a teacher-- saying I was in her classroom. I was really enjoying having a lot of time, having a good time. And then Jan came in as the principal for Jefferson Community Adult School. And then she started asking me to do different tasks, like, you know, OK, I got know her. I would choose her, and she would say, OK.

I noticed she started always observing with me. She was always looking after me, which I appreciate. First, I was like, who is this new principal? She's coming to ask me for something. Oh, my god. You know, what does she want?

JAN BRITTAIN:

(DESCRIPTION)
Jan

(SPEECH)
So we persuaded him to stay in adult ed. And then, of course, I hired him as an academic teacher, a citizenship teacher.

(DESCRIPTION)
In a photo, Jose with his arm around Jan. Text, Happy Birthday to you...Principal Janice Brittain celebrated her birthday November 29th!

(SPEECH)
When I came to Venice, then we hired him to be a part of the AEWC Program at Venice and which is still here, and he's now just finished his master's degree and is going into administration.

(DESCRIPTION)
Jose

(SPEECH)
JOSE RODRIGUEZ: I, inevitably, like to go back to school and get my doctorate degree. But, you know, I shouldn't say but. Right now, I'm enjoying my family too, my two children, a three-year-old [INAUDIBLE] and a month-and-a-half-old Emiliano, and my wife, of course, and my family.

So I'm going to take a little break into that. But I'm still-- you know, one of my goals is to become a principal or coordinator working curriculum and teach, because teaching is my soul, my thing that gets me going.