A passion and deep respect for education led Dolores Ramirez to TCTA presidency
It took only a short stint as a 2nd grade substitute teacher for Dolores Ramirez to fall in love with the students and know that teaching was her destiny. “That was it for me,” she says. “I went back to college my junior year and changed my major to elementary education.” But she is the first to admit that it all really started long before, as she pays tribute to her mother for passing on a deep respect for education and the teaching profession. She describes her parents as children of the Depression and heroes of World War II, who were not college graduates but instilled a respect for the importance of a college degree in both Ramirez and her sister, Sandra. Both daughters exceeded their parents’ expectations and today continue to enjoy successful teaching careers after more than 30 years. Certainly, becoming president of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association is not only a professional accomplishment for Ramirez, but a meaningful one on a personal level.
Ramirez has been teaching kindergarten for the past 19 years in the Rangerville Elementary School in the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District. On arrival each day, she is immediately “mobbed” by her students as they vie for her attention - some can’t wait to tell her something really important, others just need a hug. Since she teaches at the primary level, Ramirez says “the fruits of her labor are very obvious and evidenced daily.” Still, she continues to be amazed at the transformation of students from frightened children at the beginning of kinder to confident students at the end of the year. Her greatest reward comes from watching her students accomplish goals set by the state of Texas, and knowing that she played a part in that great accomplishment in the life of a child. “That makes it all worthwhile and is why I teach.”
“I am a teacher”
After 33 years in the profession, Dolores still radiates a love for her students and a passion for education that manifests itself in every part of her life. “I am a teacher,” Ramirez says, “When I go to the grocery store, I instinctively stop kids from running down the aisles. I lead sing-a-longs on road trips. I snap my fingers to get my brother-in-law’s attention. Sometimes I even break out in rhyme!”
Ramirez has also learned that teaching at the same school for many years in a small town can lead to some interesting experiences. When recently called up for jury duty, she was brought to the front of the courtroom by the judge who introduced her as his first grade teacher and credited her for giving him his start (sidenote: she also taught his twin brother who is an attorney too!). Ramirez often educates the younger siblings of former students, and frequently encounters the whole family. Recently, she learned that the mother of a high school senior tells him that if he misbehaves, she’s going to call “Mrs. Ramirez” to have a talk with him! “Reports like this confirm that parents respect my position and my opinions,” an honor that Ramirez says carries much responsibility.
While Ramirez is thankful that most parents provide well for their child’s education and are supportive of teachers, she is disappointed by those “parents who through their lack of involvement and misdirection frustrate the education of their own child.” She wishes more of these parents would realize the importance of their child’s early years and heed the words of Robert Fulghum: “All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten.”
Her concerns for education
It comes as no surprise that she considers the most pressing matter for education right now to be the budget crisis. “My greatest concern is that our leaders will not consider what is best for the children of our great state, and in an effort to balance the budget, will harm our most precious product, our children,” says Ramirez. Again, she is reminded of her parents, who never allowed her education to suffer due to financial problems they may have encountered.
TCTA involvement came early
After graduating from college in 1978, Ramirez joined the San Benito CTA, where her sister and cousin were founding members. She’s seen a lot during her 33 years, recalling when TCTA Executive Director Jeri Stone was first hired as an attorney and TCTA disaffiliated seven of the large local affiliates because they were encouraging membership in NEA, TSTA, while excluding TCTA.
Ramirez commends TCTA for the great job it does in educating and keeping members informed of their rights and responsibilities. She believes that as long as TCTA focuses on the welfare of the teacher and continues to represent Texas teachers with integrity at the state level, it will be successful and remain in the forefront of professional organizations. She also encourages teachers to take a proactive stance regarding education and the teaching profession “because if we don’t get involved, we have no right to complain when bad things happen to us.”
Running for the office of state president was an easy decision for Ramirez, who expresses admiration and respect for the professional way in which the staff, executive board, and council operate TCTA, adding “I want to be associated with the growth, success and leadership of TCTA, which gives voice to teachers, and I want to represent my peers and be a voice for them.”
At the state level, Ramirez has served as chair of the TCTA Budget committee (2008-10) and Communications/Public Relations committee (2010-11); District 1 director for nine years; and member of the ACT For TCTA committee. She has also held numerous offices in the San Benito CTA, including president, vice-president and faculty representative. She has represented her campus on the Superintendent’s Advisory Council and her grade level on the Campus Improvement Team, and also served as president of the District I Coordinating Council.
Taking the reins
On June 1, 2011, Ramirez took office as 2011-12 statewide president of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association. In this position, she will guide TCTA’s efforts as it works to enhance the teaching profession and provide a full array of services and advocacy to its more than 50,000 members. She also will take an active role in representing the Association at many key discussions and meetings, including the State Board for Educator Certification, State Board of Education and Teacher Retirement System. She looks forward to visiting with teachers from every region of Texas and hopes to be invited to CTA meetings and functions.
On the homefront
Born and raised in San Benito, Ramirez graduated from San Benito High School and received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Texas A&I University in Kingsville (now Texas A&M). In addition to her longtime service at Rangerville Elementary School, Ramirez previously taught at Landrum Elementary School in the San Benito CISD, and in Dallas for nine years. In 2006, she was named Rangerville Elementary Teacher of the Year. Ramirez is also active in the community with the San Benito Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, K-Kids Club, and Aggie Moms of the Rio Grande Valley.
When she has free time, Ramirez enjoys mowing her yard, needlework and stringing beads, cooking and baking for her family, and traveling. She loves romance novels and murder mysteries, lounging around the house in her pjs, watching old Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies on rainy days, and dancing to country music. Her favorite singer is Michael Buble´. On payday or thereabouts, she loves to unwind with friends at happy hour, adding “we don’t drink much but we do solve a lot of our school district’s problems.”
Ramirez is happy to report that her daughter Andrea will return to Texas this summer. Andrea graduated with a degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&M University in 2010 and has worked in Denver since graduation. TCTA’s new president is proud to be a third generation Presbyterian and a 10th generation Texan from a family that was here before the American Revolution.
