Thursday, October 1, 2026
In the halls of Valley Stream’s high schools, a new norm is taking shape as the district fully embraces trade and technical training, with Lori Rodriguez at the helm as its first-ever work-based learning coordinator.
Hired last year by the Valley Stream Central High School District, Rodriguez, 62, has been tasked with a tall order: bridging the gap between classroom instruction and real-world experience for students in the district’s five growing career and technical education programs — medical assisting, certified nursing, automotive, cosmetology, and culinary arts.
And she’s wasting no time.
“This is my first year in the role, the first time the district has hired someone specifically for this,” Rodriguez said. “And it’s all about creating a more technical career-ready climate — giving students a real chance to see what their future might look like.”
Rodriguez is no stranger to this work. She previously served in a similar capacity with Nassau BOCES, where she coordinated internships for automotive students — some of whom now work full-time in the very dealerships where they interned. Those same successful pipelines are now taking shape in Valley Stream.
Just last year, she placed students from the district’s nascent automotive program into internships at the Valley Stream Subaru dealership and the Crown Ford dealership in Lynbrook. Both were offered full-time jobs after graduation.
“It’s that straight path — from classroom to internship to career — that we want to build on,” Rodriguez said.
Her approach is refreshingly hands-on. She’s embedded herself in the local business community, attending Chamber of Commerce meetings, walking into salons and restaurants to pitch partnerships, and establishing a district-wide Community Advisory Board. The board, made up of business owners, nonprofit leaders, educators, and public officials, serves as both a sounding board and a think tank — offering feedback on curriculum and helping align student training with real industry needs.
“They’re the experts,” Rodriguez said. “So, if we’re rolling out a new curriculum, we want their input. Does it reflect what’s actually happening in the field today? Are we preparing students with the right tools — not just technically, but professionally?”
Those soft skills — punctuality, communication, problem-solving — are what employers value most, she said. And she’s determined to help students sharpen them.
To that end, the district is gearing up to host its second annual Skilled Trade and Career Expo — a one-stop showcase for students to explore alternatives to four-year college. Featuring trade unions, military representatives, workforce development programs, and training schools, the expo is aimed squarely at the student who’s still unsure about their next steps.
“We do a great job with college fairs. But what about the kid who’s not going to college? Are we showing them all their options?” Rodriguez asked. “Because some of these are very viable — living-wage jobs, real careers — and students deserve to know they exist.”
But the road ahead is still taking shape. The internships she coordinates generally begin in the spring, after students have had enough classroom instruction to walk into a workplace with confidence.
In the fall, her focus is on outreach — laying the groundwork for those opportunities through meetings, site visits, and one-on-one conversations.
Have an opinion on this article? Send an email to jlasso@liherald.com.
