CSUSB alumna Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez to discuss new memoir, ‘Hey Miss,’ during Hispanic Heritage Month

Award-winning educator, author and Cal State San Bernardino alumna Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez will return to CSUSB on Thursday, Oct. 15, to discuss her new memoir, “Hey Miss: Unveiling Learning’s Promise.” Taking place on the final day of Hispanic Heritage Month, the program will serve as a concluding event in CSUSB’s monthlong celebration.

The program, presented by CSUSB Libraries and the James R. Watson and Judy Rodriguez Watson College of Education, will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Faculty Center for Excellence, PL-4005, on the fourth floor of the John M. Pfau Library.  Rodriguez will discuss her book and reflect on more than two decades as an educator, sharing stories of resilience, mentorship and the transformative power of education.  An audience question-and-answer session and book signing will follow.

Twenty free copies of the book will be given away to CSUSB students while supplies last.

In the memoir, Rodriguez draws on her experiences as both a student and educator to explore the relationships at the heart of teaching and learning.  Her stories emphasize the importance of seeing students as individuals, listening to their experiences and recognizing the influence educators can have on their lives.

“We are here not to control but to inspire.  We are here to listen as well as to speak,” Rodriguez writes in “Hey Miss.”  The passage reflects a philosophy that runs throughout the memoir.

One student in particular, Ophelia, became Rodriguez’s “why” — a reminder of why she chose to teach and of the difference an educator can make by looking beyond a student’s immediate circumstances.  In the book, Rodriguez recounts how Ophelia struggled to attend school consistently because she was helping care for her younger sister, who had cancer.  Rather than focusing solely on Ophelia’s absences, Rodriguez listened, learned what the student was facing at home, and offered ways for her to keep up with her schoolwork. 

“I teach because of students like Ophelia,” Rodriguez writes.  “As a teacher, I have the opportunity to help change lives.  Just like people helped me change my life.”

“Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez’s compelling story speaks to educators at every stage of their journey—from aspiring teachers preparing to enter the profession to seasoned educators reflecting on a lifetime of service,” said Chinaka DomNwachukwu, dean of CSUSB’s Watson College of Education.  “Both inspiring and thought-provoking, this book is a powerful testament to the transformative influence of teaching and the lasting difference one educator can make.  We are immensely proud of Jacqueline for representing CSUSB with distinction and for her enduring commitment to positively impacting schools and communities.”

The story of Ophelia reflects one of the central ideas of “Hey Miss:” Students’ lives outside the classroom can profoundly affect what happens inside it, and educators can make a difference by taking the time to understand the people they teach.

“Students learn from someone they care about and who cares about them,” Rodriguez writes.

Rodriguez’s return to CSUSB also brings the story full circle. A two-time CSUSB alumna, she earned both her bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Education from the university.  Her experiences in the Inland Empire form an important part of the educational journey reflected in the book. 

“I am thrilled that we are celebrating a work that spotlights an Inland Empire education journey,” said Rebecca Lubas, dean of CSUSB Libraries.

The Oct. 15 program will offer the campus community an opportunity to hear Rodriguez expand on these experiences and discuss the people and relationships that shaped “Hey Miss.”

Following the presentation, attendees will have an opportunity to speak with Rodriguez and have copies of the book signed.

The program is free and open to the public.  Those unable to attend in person may participate via Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/HeyMiss-CSUSB.

For questions or more information, contact Rob Madrigal at rmadriga@csusb.edu.