Mr. Jimmy Rodriguez, Principal 
Email: jirodrig@pasco.k12.fl.us

Aja Richards, Assistant Principal 
Email: ajrichar@pasco.k12.fl.us

Hello! My name is Aja Richards and I am thrilled to be joining the Odessa Elementary School community as the new Assistant Principal. With over 17 years of experience in Pasco County Schools, I bring a deep passion for education and a strong commitment to student success.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of teaching 2nd – 4th grade, serving as an ESE Support Facilitator, completing the Administrative Internship Program, and most recently working as an Instructional Trainer Coach. These roles have shaped my belief in the power of inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environments where every student can thrive.

I believe that strong partnerships between families, educators, and students are essential to fostering academic excellence and personal growth. I’m especially excited to return to Odessa Elementary—not only because two of my own children previously attended here, but also because I had the joy of teaching at Odessa earlier in my career.  I look forward to building meaningful relationships with our students, staff, and families once again.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three children. As a family, we love to travel, especially to the beautiful mountains in North Carolina. We love being out in nature and enjoy attending local sporting events together. I look forward to a fantastic year ahead and am honored to support the continued success of our amazing school community.