Shared Services SHERO - March, 2026

Congratulations, Sor Griselda Rodriguez, Chelsea, MA 

Meet Sor Griselda Rodriguez —

My name is Sister Griselda Rodríguez. I was born in the Dominican Republic and belong to the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Heart of Jesus, a religious institution to which I have dedicated most of my life in service to evangelization, education, and the holistic development of children and families.

From the beginning of my religious vocation, I have experienced a strong and constant calling to educational and pastoral service, particularly focused on supporting children in situations of need and providing close, responsible guidance to families—especially those facing social, economic, or migration-related vulnerability.

I currently reside in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where I work full-time as an educator in a Family Child Care program licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). I carry out this work in accordance with the regulations of the State of Massachusetts.

My program began operations in 2008 and, throughout its trajectory, has been established as an educational space committed to the holistic development of children. It complies with regulations responsibly and professionally, prioritizing safety, educational quality, and overall well-being, while harmoniously addressing the physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions of each child. Its pedagogical approach is grounded in love of God, absolute respect for human dignity, and the promotion of excellence in early childhood education.

I am grateful to the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and to Nurtury, a leading early education organization, which has strengthened my work through ongoing professional development opportunities. In keeping with this commitment, I have maintained a continuous process of professional growth and updating by participating in academic programs. I have taken classes at Urban College, hold a CDA credential, and have completed other trainings and workshops offered by various educational institutions to strengthen my knowledge in child development and early education, ensuring an ethical, responsible, and up-to-date educational practice.

I express my deep and sincere gratitude to Shared Services of Massachusetts, especially Melinda Weber, who has supported the growth, development, and strengthening of my knowledge through workshops on Family Child Care financing, the Mentorship course, and other trainings. I confirm that this support has contributed significantly to the consolidation of a high-quality educational service centered on the real needs of my program.

In direct response to the needs of many immigrant families in the Chelsea community, the Family Child Care program emerged as a tangible expression of faith, service, and community commitment, oriented toward the holistic formation of children and the strengthening of their families.

In carrying out this service at Family Child Care Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, whose name is inspired by the message of love, prayer, and hope transmitted by Our Lady of Fatima to the children, I also embrace the philosophy of Maria Montessori, who stated that “education in early childhood is the foundation for the transformation of society,” a principle that guides and gives meaning to my daily educational work.

The mission of the program is to offer early education and care of human and professional excellence in a safe, stable, and trustworthy environment characterized by tenderness, respect, faith, and joy, promoting the full development of each child’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive capacities.

The families who are part of the program repeatedly express their trust, satisfaction, and appreciation, especially valuing the family-like environment, individualized attention, and climate of respect and comprehensive care in which their children are supported. For many of them, Family Child Care represents a space of safety, support, and shared educational responsibility, strengthening collaboration between family and educator as an essential element of child development.

The journey shared with each child and each family has been deeply meaningful and enriching. Therefore, I offer sincere thanks to God for preparing me for this mission of service, and I continually renew my commitment to serve children and the community with love, dedication, ethics, and responsibility, faithful to the mission entrusted to me.

A Look Inside Griselda's Learning Environment