About

R. Joseph Rodríguez is a seasoned educator and scholar with a deep commitment to literacy and language learning. He has taught English and Spanish language arts in a variety of settings, including public schools, community colleges, and universities. His extensive experience has equipped him with a unique perspective on the complexities of language acquisition and the power of literature to shape young minds.

Joseph is a prolific author, having published numerous books, research articles, and narrative poems. His works explore a range of topics, including young people's literature, language acquisition, and socially responsible biliteracies. He is particularly passionate about the role of literature in fostering critical thinking and empathy, and he often incorporates banned and challenged books into his teaching to spark meaningful conversations and encourage intellectual curiosity among his students and teacher colleagues.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Joseph is actively involved in community initiatives. As the founder of the literacy initiative Libre con Libros, he works to promote engagement in schools and civic communities. He is also a former editor of NCTE’s English Journal, where he contributed to the advancement of language arts education.

Currently, Joseph teaches language arts and reading at an early college high school in Austin, Texas. He also works as a teacher educator at local universities, sharing his expertise and passion for teaching with aspiring educators. His dedication to his students and his commitment to creating scribal and literacy-rich learning environments make him a valuable asset to the educational community.

Joseph enjoys cooking, hiking, kayaking, reading, storytelling, traveling, volunteering, and writing. He enjoys the brave outdoors with his family and their cantankerous canine Maxwell.

Follow him on Instagram @scribestoday