Jose Morales, principal at Roosevelt High School

What inspired you to become an educator and, now, a school principal?

Coming to this country as an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, there were many hardships in my schooling experience that informed my desire to serve marginalized youth. Additionally, as a teacher serving families in the Westlake/McArthur Park community, I saw many of the same hardships in my students’ stories. Consequently, my desire to help disrupt systems that perpetuate inequitable experiences for students led me into administration and ultimately to serving school communities as a principal. 

On the day you started as principal of Roosevelt High School, what were your thoughts as you walked onto your campus?

I felt incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to continue to serve a community that I deeply care about and that I have served over the last four years. Moreover, this was especially significant to me because I had the opportunity not only to continue serving the Boyle Heights community but also to do so at a school often considered the heart of the community. This is a truly special opportunity, and I am honored by it. 

What excites you most about leading Roosevelt High School and staying in Boyle Heights?

I think what excites me most about leading at Roosevelt High School is the opportunity to continue building relationships with families in Boyle Heights. I have had the privilege to begin doing so as Principal at Stevenson CCP, and I look forward to continuing that work as Principal at RHS. It feels great to reconnect with families that I have known for years and whom I have served previously. 

Every school has challenges—what do you see as the biggest opportunities for growth at Roosevelt?

Roosevelt has incredible pathway programs and dedicated educators, but there’s room to strengthen coherence across classrooms so that every student—whether in Law & Public Service, STEAM, Medical & Health Science, or AMDP—experiences rigorous, standards-aligned instruction every day. Building consistent instructional practices, with an intentional focus on the use of a high-quality curriculum to support our English learners,  students with disabilities, and socio-economically disadvantaged students, is a clear opportunity to accelerate achievement.

How do you plan to connect with students and ensure their voices are heard in shaping the school’s future?

I want to ensure that I am always present and available to meet with students and engage them in conversations about our school and its future. I am committed to hosting focus groups with students throughout the fall semester to learn more about their aspirations for Roosevelt’s future and to also seek their support in co-leading initiatives across campus. 

Who was a teacher or mentor who shaped your own journey, and what lesson did they leave with you?

My first teachers; and the people who have had the biggest impact on me in my personal and professional journey are my parents. They immigrated from El Salvador in the early 1980’s and raised three children as undocumented immigrants providing for them as much as they could with what was within their means. Regardless, the things that never lacked were love, loyalty, consistency, and life lessons around purpose, hard work, and resiliency. These values have not only shaped my moral compass throughout the years but have also become ingrained in how I lead. 

Looking ahead a few years, what do you hope the Roosevelt community will say about your leadership and impact?

I hope the Roosevelt community will say that I led with care, consistency, and a relentless focus on student success. That under my leadership, we strengthened a Culture of Care—where students felt safe, supported, and known by name and need. I want the community to say that instruction became more coherent and rigorous across all classrooms, and that our pathways fully prepared students for college, career, and civic life. Most importantly, I want families, staff, and students to say that their voices mattered—that they were part of shaping the school’s direction, and that together we honored the proud Rough Rider legacy while building new opportunities for the next generation.

What’s something students or staff might be surprised to learn about you (a hidden talent, favorite music/TV show, first job, or go-to snack)?

I am a music fanatic and listen to all types of music styles. I have curated over 41 playlists ranging from Salsa to punk and most genres in between. My oldest playlist is titled “Writing Music” which I began working on when I first started writing my dissertation in 2013. That playlist currently has over 54 hours worth of songs!