The week of January 6, NYC Museum School welcomed back Principal Rodrigues. He was recovering from health issues and was not present in school for several months. While Mr. Rodrigues was out, the Superintendent appointed an acting principal, Mr. Hernandez, to fill in whom The Gallery featured in a previous article, “Surprise! We Have a New Acting Principal.”
Mr. Rodrigues is seen as a vital part of the school community and was well missed during his leave. Junior Saadie Stoller noticed how he “always formed relationships with all the students” and “was able to address everyone by their names.” Students were anxious for the return of their principal.
Mr. Rodrigues said that, although he feels much better now, the recovery process was not easy for him, as he faced “difficulty breathing and doing minor tasks that require exerting a little bit of effort.”
Despite these challenges, Mr. Rodrigues remained determined to make a full recovery and return to the school community as “everyone [teachers, students, parents and alumni] showed so much empathy” towards Rodrigues, which he said he really “appreciated and it gave [him] a lot of strength in the intensive care unit.”
Mr. Rodrigues mentioned the importance of understanding and being compassionate towards others while discussing how the school community can help him transition. “As someone who is immunocompromised after a heart transplant, I’m very sensitive to potential threats to my immune system,” he stated. Mr. Rodrigues advocated for raising awareness about organ donation and supporting one another during health challenges, “I feel very blessed to be part of this community and I couldn’t wait to come back—to visit classrooms, connect with teachers, and greet students in the hallway. It’s moments like this that remind me how unique this place is.”
Mr. Rodrigues spoke about how he missed “the day-to-day interaction with the community.” He reflected fondly on calls and meetings with parents, conversations with teachers and students, and even moments spent connecting with school safety agents. “I was also grateful to reconnect with principals and leadership from other schools in the building,” he added.
Now that he’s back, Mr. Rodrigues shared his goals for the remainder of the school year. “We’re very proud to develop leaders. Last week, we had some alumni visit us, and the positive feedback about their high school experiences was incredibly inspiring,” he said, referring to the few students from the class of 2024 who visited the school, mainly to share their recent college experiences with the current seniors as an alumni panel, navigating the college application process. “We have very strong teachers who are constantly developing themselves as educators,” he added. Beyond academics, Mr. Rodrigues is focused on creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect and grow. “Trips and bonding experiences are essential,” he said, highlighting Ms. Hindelong and her team for organizing activities across all grade levels. “My goal is to ensure the overall experience for students is positive. I’m here as an ally for teachers and students—to support, uplift, and empower them.”
When asked about how she felt about Mr. Rodrigues’ return, sophomore Emily Crépon-Wall said, “I feel very happy to have him back, we missed him.” She explained that she had missed his “overall presence in the building, the energy he brings,” adding that having Mr. Rodrigues back had a positive impact on the school.
When reflecting on resilience and overcoming challenges, Mr. Rodrigues mentioned that “the process was incredibly difficult, but everything changed when [he] began to trust the professionals who had [his] best interests at heart”. Mr. Rodrigues encouraged students to adopt a positive mindset, and reminded them that “when facing any crisis, having a positive and hopeful outlook not only helps you heal but also empowers you to cope and move forward in life.”
