Courtney Rodriguez Sales comes from an extensive and varied background that has always had the same focus: advocating for children. Courtney received a Bachelor of Arts in Crime, Law, and Justice from the Pennsylvania State University. She then accepted a position with Teach for America, instructing a fifth-grade classroom in her hometown of Bronx, New York. She led her students to achieve over two years of reading growth in one instructional year. The inequities she witnessed inspired Courtney to obtain a Juris Doctor Degree from Hofstra Law School, which she hoped to use to "dismantle the system" she felt deprived students of an excellent education. She became an Assistant Public Defender in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, representing juveniles in their criminal proceedings.
Years later, she chose to return to the place she felt she could make the most impact: schools. In her position as the Project Manager for the Pittsburgh Public School District's Department of Professional Development, she developed and managed a number of district initiatives. Additionally, Courtney supported school administrators in the creation of professional development plans aimed at building the capacity of teachers and producing academic achievement for students. Most recently, Mrs. Sales received a credential from Harvard University's College of Education for successfully completing its Urban School Leaders Program. Having fought on behalf of children in the boardroom, the courtroom, and the classroom, Courtney is humbled by the opportunity to create and manage a world class school for children in Houston, Texas.
