Getting to know a 2025 gcLi Lab Scholar – Elle Rodriguez Hernandez
1. Who are your favorite writers?
Beverly Cleary, Hunter Harris, and Ta’Nehisi Coates
2. Who are your heroes in real life?
Any student who does something brave
3. Who or what motivated you to become an educator?
My lack of direction and purpose as a young adult. I needed a developer in my life, and my experience inspired me to be that for others.
4. Your idea of happiness…
Involves a home cooked meal and a cozy spot on the sofa
5. In a nutshell, what is your definition of leadership?
Being the best version of yourself with the intention of affecting positive change
6. What do you most value in your friends?
Kindness and a sense of adventure
7. What do you do for self-renewal?
Listen to my favorite music, make something with my hands, and play fetch with my cat
8. Who is your hero/ heroine of fiction?
Ramona Quimby
9. What is your current state of mind?
I have survived 100% of my worst days, so the last three weeks of school are nothing!
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Elle Rodriguez Hernandez is a third grade teacher at University School of Milwaukee. She started her career in education over 10 years ago as an advisor to international high school students with the Wisconsin International Academy. From there, she served for two years as the Assistant Dean of Students at Pius XI Catholic High School in Milwaukee before deciding to return to school herself and pursue her Master’s in Education as well as her teaching licensure. Her first experience as a classroom teacher was in second grade at St. Roman’s School in Milwaukee. Now at USM, in addition to teaching third grade she serves as the social studies department chair for the Preschool and Lower School. Both of these roles offer her the opportunity not only to develop leadership in her students as she works with them everyday, but also to put her own leadership skills into practice as she supports colleagues in their work of providing engaging and meaningful social studies lessons.
Through the experience of her own unconventional path into an educational career, Elle has learned the value of identity work in cultivating leadership and considers it to be at the heart of everything she does in her classroom. She teaches students to identify their strengths and grow through their challenges; helps them develop their resilience while still offering space for vulnerability; and encourages them to leverage their gifts to build community with others and affect positive change. She is passionate about nurturing her students to be in alignment with the USM mission: curious learners, responsible leaders, and engaged citizens.
When not at work, Elle loves to travel with her partner Jon – their number one bucket list item is to visit all 50 states and all 7 continents! She’s also a big foodie and enjoys trying new restaurants around town as much as she loves trying new recipes at home. Her proudest non-work accomplishment recently has been teaching her cat Pearl how to play fetch.