Wilson Ramirez, who was inspired by the United States and the promise of education while watching a television program as a child in the Andes mountains, has been honored with the 2018 Victoria D. de Sanchez Northern Virginia Hispanic Teacher of the Year Award. He received a check for $2,000 and a commemorative plaque at a reception sponsored by Marymount University on May 30.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
The award, given annually by the Victoria D. de Sanchez Endowment at Marymount, was established through The Hispanic Youth Foundation of Northern Virginia as a way to recognize and encourage teachers who demonstrate exemplary results in working with Hispanic students. Its namesake was a leader in establishing schools, training teachers and developing textbooks and curricula across Latin America.<\/p>\n
Ramirez, a native Colombian who teaches\u00a0Spanish and literature to fluent and native speakers at Washington-Lee High School, said he was honored and grateful to receive the award.<\/p>\n
\u0093I believe that every student can learn and that every student can learn to find meaning in more than one language,\u0094 he said. \u0093As teachers, it is our responsibility to help our students bridge that linguistic gap, and teach them to jump beyond our expectations, and sometimes even go beyond their own expectations.\u0094 \u0093He is a person who has the gift of connecting with youth,\u0094 Lado said. \u0093He changes lives.\u0094 Photo captions Photo 2 Photo 3 Wilson Ramirez, who was inspired by the United States and the promise of education while watching a television program as a child in the Andes mountains, has been honored with the 2018 Victoria D. de Sanchez Northern Virginia Hispanic Teacher of the Year Award. He received a check for $2,000 and a commemorative plaque at […]<\/p>\n
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\nThe television program that inspired him, Revivamos Nuestra Historia (Let\u0092s Relive Our History), showed the potential of global citizens to move freely about the world while using language and culture as vehicles. He has been a Spanish instructor at the University of Maryland, a university professor in Spain and Colombia, and a high school teacher and assistant principal in Colombia.
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\nDr. Ana Lado<\/a>, a Marymount professor of education who serves on the award selection committee, said Ramirez\u0092s application included dozens of letters of support from former students and colleagues, along with his current administrators.<\/p>\n
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\nRamirez said many of the students he teaches are just like him.
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\n\u0093I\u0092ve discovered that they clearly speak my language and reflect many of the same experiences I\u0092ve had as an immigrant from a Spanish-speaking background,\u0094 he said. \u0093They look, sound and experience some of the same obstacles I have faced in my life, especially related to accent, language and identity.\u0094
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\nHe said he\u0092s taken on the responsibility of creating a place where their identities, languages and cultures are considered assets rather than deficits.
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\nLilliana Maldonado-M\u00e9ndez, a colleague at Washington-Lee, called him a \u0093once-in-a-lifetime teacher\u0094 who takes the time to talk with students, learns about their life outside school and offers advice and support.
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\n\u0093He knows which of his students have to work to support their families, who is living alone and has to support him\/herself, who needs help getting school supplies, clothes, food or just emotional support,\u0094 said Maldonado-M\u00e9ndez, who was the 2016 Hispanic Teacher of the Year.
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\nHe also lets them know they need to work hard and overcome problems to be successful, she said.
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\n\u0093He stays after school to work and help students, and he makes his room a refuge, a safe place for many students who do not feel like they fit into the school environment,\u0094 she added. \u0093His study hall is always full of not only his own students, but also kids that ask to be in his classroom because they feel comfortable and welcome there.\u0094
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\nRamirez holds a bachelor\u0092s degree in philosophy with a minor in education from Saint Thomas University in Colombia, a master\u0092s degree in education and human Development from Javeriana University in Colombia, a masters in educational administration from Pamplona University in Colombia, and has done advanced graduate work at the University of Barcelona, Spain. He\u0092s currently pursuing his master\u0092s degree to become certified as an administrator.
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\n\u0093Mr. Ramirez gets students excited about education,\u0094 said Dr. Gregg Robertson, his principal. \u0093His caring attitude, devotion to children and superior knowledge of the subject matter makes him effective with students at all levels. All students recognize his enthusiasm for teaching and learning and respond with accomplishment and success. He is a role model to the students and they look up to him for support and guidance.\u0094
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\nMarymount University is an independent, coeducational Catholic university offering bachelor\u0092s, master\u0092s, and doctoral degrees in a wide range of disciplines. For more information, visit<\/em>\u00a0marymount.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nPhoto 1
\nWilson Ramirez is the 2018 Victoria D. de Sanchez Northern Virginia Hispanic Teacher of the Year Award. He received a check for $2,000 and a commemorative plaque at a reception sponsored by Marymount University on May 30 at the school\u0092s Main House.<\/p>\n
\nMarymount University President Dr. Matthew D. Shank hosted the reception for Ramirez.<\/p>\n
\nHispanic Youth Foundation of Northern Virginia board member Melissa Elena Stites Miller, the great-granddaughter of Victoria D. de Sanchez, with Wilson Ramirez.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"