Ángel Ramos (educator)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ángel Ramos was the founder of the National Hispanic Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Superintendent of the Idaho
School for the Deaf and the Blind, and was one of the few deaf person of Hispanic
descent to earn a doctorate
from Gallaudet University
.
. In the early 1950s, Ramos' parents left the island and moved to New York City
. Shortly afterward, his parents divorced, and as a result he and his sister were raised by his mother, who worked as a seamstress. They lived in a poor apartment building, along with a number of relatives. Ramos attended public school, leading a normal child's life until 1959 when, while nine years old, he lost his hearing
. He was able to hide his impairment from his mother for two years and from his school by following directions on the classroom blackboard and by reading his textbook
s carefully. By 1961, he had learned to lip-read and this helped him to get by elementary school
all the way to high school
.
Manhattan College
in 1971. By that time, he learned sign language
and while 21 years old, he earned his Bachelor of Science
degree in Mathematics
. Ramos then worked as a taxi
driver until he was hired as a gym
supervisor at a deaf school — with his only pay being room and board
. Eventually, he became a teacher
at another local school for the deaf.
Ramos applied and qualified for financial assistance from the Division of National Rehabilitation and then attended the State University of New York
where he earned a Master of Science
degree in Education of the Deaf. He continued his academic education at California State University
, earning a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration. He then enrolled in the Gallaudet University
in Washington, D.C.
and earned a Doctorate
in Special Education
Administration.
Ramos held a teaching position at Lamar University
in Beaumont, Texas
. He was the founder the National Hispanic Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Washington, D.C.
. He was also a Fulbright Scholar, author, and chairman of various organizations.
, Gooding. The school — with over 110 students in residence over 700 students through satellite
centers in other parts of the state — is a state-supported public school for resident Idaho special education
students whose primary handicap is a hearing impairment or visual impairment.
In 2003, Dr. Ramos published the book "Triumph of the Spirit: The DPN Chronicle", about the historic situation of deaf students at Gallaudet University
.
with two campuses — in Mesa
and Phoenix
. After Former Principal Curt Radford resigned the position in 2007.
The Governor of Arizona Janet Napolitano
also appointed Dr. Ramos as a commissioner on the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
School for the Deaf and the Blind, and was one of the few deaf person of Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
descent to earn a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
from Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
.
Early years
Ramos was born in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. In the early 1950s, Ramos' parents left the island and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Shortly afterward, his parents divorced, and as a result he and his sister were raised by his mother, who worked as a seamstress. They lived in a poor apartment building, along with a number of relatives. Ramos attended public school, leading a normal child's life until 1959 when, while nine years old, he lost his hearing
Hearing (sense)
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through an organ such as the ear. It is one of the traditional five senses...
. He was able to hide his impairment from his mother for two years and from his school by following directions on the classroom blackboard and by reading his textbook
Textbook
A textbook or coursebook is a manual of instruction in any branch of study. Textbooks are produced according to the demands of educational institutions...
s carefully. By 1961, he had learned to lip-read and this helped him to get by elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
all the way to high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
.
Academic education
Ramos later enrolled, attended, and graduatedGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
in 1971. By that time, he learned sign language
Sign language
A sign language is a language which, instead of acoustically conveyed sound patterns, uses visually transmitted sign patterns to convey meaning—simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's...
and while 21 years old, he earned his Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. Ramos then worked as a taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
driver until he was hired as a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
supervisor at a deaf school — with his only pay being room and board
Room and board
Room and board describes a situation where, in exchange for money, labor or other considerations, a person is provided with a place to live as well as meals on a comprehensive basis...
. Eventually, he became a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
at another local school for the deaf.
Ramos applied and qualified for financial assistance from the Division of National Rehabilitation and then attended the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
where he earned a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in Education of the Deaf. He continued his academic education at California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
, earning a Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration. He then enrolled in the Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and earned a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Special Education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
Administration.
Ramos held a teaching position at Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
in Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
. He was the founder the National Hispanic Council of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He was also a Fulbright Scholar, author, and chairman of various organizations.
Superintendent of the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind
On August 1, 2001, Ramos was named Superintendent of the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind, located in GoodingGooding, Idaho
Gooding is the county seat and largest city of Gooding County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 3,384 at the 2000 census.The city is named for Frank R. Gooding, a local sheep rancher who became a prominent political figure in Idaho in the early 20th Century, serving as both Governor of...
, Gooding. The school — with over 110 students in residence over 700 students through satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
centers in other parts of the state — is a state-supported public school for resident Idaho special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
students whose primary handicap is a hearing impairment or visual impairment.
In 2003, Dr. Ramos published the book "Triumph of the Spirit: The DPN Chronicle", about the historic situation of deaf students at Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University is a federally-chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing, located in the District of Columbia, U.S...
.
Later years
In 2005, Dr. Ramos was appointed Superintendent of Sequoia School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,a charter school in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
with two campuses — in Mesa
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
and Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. After Former Principal Curt Radford resigned the position in 2007.
The Governor of Arizona Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st...
also appointed Dr. Ramos as a commissioner on the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.