Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
Languages
Certifications And Licensure
Timeline
Generic

Rocío Alejo Rodríguez

Zaragoza

Summary

International education leader with over a decade of experience driving institutional partnerships, managing academic operations, and leading cross-cultural teams across Spain, the U.S., and Europe. Proven success in school leadership, stakeholder engagement, curriculum innovation, and accreditation processes (NEASC and national systems). Deep understanding of bilingual and international education contexts, with a strong ability to foster strategic relationships with ministries, school leaders, and education networks. Fluent in Spanish and English; intermediate in Italian. Passionate about contributing to globally minded, mission-driven education initiatives.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Resident Director

School Year Abroad (SYA)
Zaragoza
07.2022 - Current
  • Direct all operations of SYA's international campus in Spain, including academic, administrative, financial, and residential functions.
  • Ensure the health, safety, and well-being of 40-70 international students annually, supporting their academic progress, cultural integration, and personal development.
  • Serve as the legal guardian and institutional representative for all minors enrolled at the center, assuming full legal responsibility under Spanish law.
  • Lead, supervise, and support a diverse team of 10-20 educators and staff, fostering a collaborative, mission-driven work environment.
  • Recruit and onboard employees in compliance with Spanish labor legislation; oversee contracts and workplace obligations for both Spanish and U.S. personnel.
  • Manage the academic program, including supervision of curricular delivery, alignment with U.S. and international standards, and instructional quality assurance.
  • Develop and track institutional and academic goals to ensure excellence in student experience and community engagement.
  • Oversee the center's financial operations in Spain, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance with local regulations.
  • Manage all aspects of facilities and infrastructure: classroom technology, renovations, housing logistics, and material resources.
  • Maintain 24/7 availability for urgent issues involving students, staff, or operations, including crisis response and conflict resolution.
  • Act as the public face of SYA in Zaragoza and other regions of Spain, liaising with local institutions, service providers, and educational authorities.
  • Represent the organization in local and regional events, promoting its mission and reinforcing strategic relationships.

Head of Boarding House & Spanish Teacher

Akademeia High School
Warsaw
08.2021 - 07.2022
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of the boarding house, ensuring student safety and well-being.
  • Created the official Boarding House regulations manual and implemented COVID-19 procedures.
  • Maintain regular communication with families and support staff.
  • Teach Cambridge IGCSE Spanish to students in Years 9 and 10, aligning with international standards.
  • Facilitated immersive cultural experiences to enhance language acquisition.
  • Collaborated with colleagues to create interdisciplinary projects and activities.

Head of Wing House & Associate Spanish Teacher

St. Paul's School
Concord
08.2015 - 07.2021
  • Led residential life operations for a boarding house of 50+ students.
  • Managed teams of faculty advisors and collaborated with the Dean of Students' office on student life matters.
  • Taught Spanish 1, Introductory Spanish, and Spanish 3 Honors, adapting instruction to diverse learners.
  • Supervised Model UN Club and individual study projects.
  • Ensured academic and personal support through close engagement with students and parents.
  • Developed engaging lesson plans for diverse student groups.
  • Assessed student progress through regular evaluations and feedback sessions.
  • Integrated technology in lessons to support language acquisition and learning.
  • Provided individualized support to students needing additional assistance in Spanish.
  • Participated in professional development workshops to enhance teaching strategies.
  • Utilized various resources such as textbooks, worksheets, audio recordings and videos for teaching purposes.
  • Developed and implemented Spanish language curriculum to teach students grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and conversational skills.
  • Promoted cultural awareness among students by introducing them to Hispanic customs and traditions through class activities.
  • Developed language resources to support and supplement instructional activities.
  • Created safe and inclusive classroom environment to promote positive learning experience for youth with diverse backgrounds.

Spanish Teacher (Grades 7-11)

Pioneer Charter School of Science II
Saugus
08.2013 - 06.2015
  • Built the Spanish language program from the ground up.
  • Designed engaging, standards-aligned curriculum and assessments.
  • Increased student participation in language courses by 25%.
  • Organized cultural outings and led the International and Classic Film Clubs.
  • Offered academic tutoring and weekend support to students.

Academic Tutor

Compass Education
Boston
11.2012 - 08.2013
  • Designed personalized learning plans for diverse student needs.
  • Facilitated engaging tutoring sessions in Spanish Language and Literature subject.
  • Evaluated student progress and adjusted teaching methods accordingly.
  • Collaborated with parents to discuss student development and strategies.
  • Utilized educational technology tools to enhance learning experiences.
  • Developed instructional materials to support lesson objectives.
  • Researched and recommended textbooks, software, and other learning materials to complement tutoring.

Finance Department Analyst

CHEP
Madrid
09.2010 - 09.2012
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop strategic initiatives.
  • Implemented data visualization tools to enhance reporting clarity and accessibility.
  • Maintained accurate records of all data collected during analysis processes.
  • Maintained accurate records of all vendors and their contracts.
  • Managed day-to-day communications with multiple vendors simultaneously.
  • Performed periodic audits of vendors' activities to ensure contractual obligations were met.

Legal & Civil Registry Intern

Spanish Consulate
Boston
01.2010 - 05.2010
  • Assisted in processing official applications and requests from citizens.
  • Coordinated communication between consulate officials and local government agencies.
  • Ensured compliance with legal standards for documentation and records management.
  • Facilitated translations of documents to assist non-Spanish speaking individuals.
  • Conducted research on immigration policies impacting registry services.
  • Streamlined administrative procedures to enhance operational efficiency within the office.
  • Reviewed visa applications for compliance with immigration regulations and policies.
  • Analyzed supporting documents to validate applicant information and eligibility criteria.
  • Processed visa applications using internal software systems for tracking and record keeping.
  • Collaborated with team members to streamline processing workflows and improve efficiency.
  • Processed visa applications, analyzing documents for validity.
  • Answered questions, concerns and inquiries from citizens and regarding visa application process.
  • Performed digitization of documents to organize records.

Education

Intensive Spanish as a Foreign Language Teaching Course -

Cálamo & Cran Academy
Madrid, Spain
01.2012

MA - International Relations

Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI)
Barcelona, Spain
01.2007

BA - Sociology, Political Sociology Concentration

Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Madrid, Spain
01.2005

Bachelor of Arts - Erasmus Exchange

Università Degli Studi Di Bologna
Italy
01.2005

Skills

  • International & Bilingual Education
  • Strategic Partnerships & Institutional Engagement
  • Spanish, US and British Educational Systems
  • Student welfare
  • Financial management
  • Program development
  • Staff supervision
  • Crisis management
  • Educational leadership
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Community engagement
  • Resource allocation
  • Team collaboration
  • Conflict resolution
  • Safety protocols
  • Curriculum design
  • Educational Leadership & Campus Management
  • Accreditation and regulatory compliance
  • Curriculum Design & Innovation
  • Stakeholder Communication
  • Team Leadership & Professional Development
  • Event Representation & Public Speaking
  • CRM & Digital Tools
  • CRM systems & Data Management
  • Microsoft Office Suite
  • Google Workspace
  • Educational Platforms
  • SAP

Additional Information

Valid driving licence (Spain), Available to travel nationally and internationally, Experience representing institutions at conferences and education fairs, Comfortable working independently in hybrid and remote environments

Languages

  • Spanish, Native
  • English, Full Professional Proficiency
  • Italian, Intermediate

Certifications And Licensure

  • Massachusetts License to Teach Spanish (Grades 5-12)
  • 474102, MTEL Spanish, Communication and Literacy Skills

Timeline

Resident Director

School Year Abroad (SYA)
07.2022 - Current

Head of Boarding House & Spanish Teacher

Akademeia High School
08.2021 - 07.2022

Head of Wing House & Associate Spanish Teacher

St. Paul's School
08.2015 - 07.2021

Spanish Teacher (Grades 7-11)

Pioneer Charter School of Science II
08.2013 - 06.2015

Academic Tutor

Compass Education
11.2012 - 08.2013

Finance Department Analyst

CHEP
09.2010 - 09.2012

Legal & Civil Registry Intern

Spanish Consulate
01.2010 - 05.2010

Intensive Spanish as a Foreign Language Teaching Course -

Cálamo & Cran Academy

MA - International Relations

Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (IBEI)

BA - Sociology, Political Sociology Concentration

Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Bachelor of Arts - Erasmus Exchange

Università Degli Studi Di Bologna

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Rocío Alejo Rodríguez