Board of Directors

Dr. Dorothy Shapland Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of Education in the department of Special Education, Early Childhood, and Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver.  Her coursework focuses on Culturally Responsive, Trauma Informed, and Intentional teaching practices in Early STEM, Assessment, Creativity, Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education, and Educational Leadership. Her research and publications center on Teaching strategies for Social Emotional Competency, Trauma & Resiliency, and Anti-Racism & Anti-Bias teaching in the Early Years. 

Dr. Shapland has over thirty years of P-12 teaching experience and holds a Colorado Teacher License with endorsements in: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12), Early childhood Education (0-8), Elementary Education (K-6), English Language Arts (7-12), Gifted and Talented Specialist ((P-12), Instructional Technology (K-12) and Special Education Generalist (5-21), an Association of College and University Educators certificate in Effective Online Teaching, and an American Montessori Society pre-primary teaching certificate (2-6).

Dorothy spent 15 years as an active teacher leader, and instructional guide, and continues to work as a professional development provider, and coach in schools and centers across the state.  She was a founding leader in the Denver Chapter of the National Black Child Development Institute, and founding member of the Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice Council of the Division for Early Childhood of the National Council for Exceptional Children, and a consultant with the Center for Equity and Excellence. 

Dorothy holds a seat on the Denver Early Childhood Council’s Oversite board and participates in several state level committees, charter school boards, and university councils.  A part of the RMA board since the school was founded, Dr. Dorothy is also a parent of an RMA graduate who can currently be found teaching visitors at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.