Reprint from the Progress Times - August 24, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

Ramirez’ passion pays off

In 2002, Dagoberto Ramirez and the La Joya Independent School District applied for a $1 million grant entitled the Passion for United States History (PUSH) Project Grant. They didn’t receive it.

However, instead of looking elsewhere or giving up entirely, Dagoberto tried again.

"In 2003 we reapplied and changed the proposal from the previous year to address the recommendations of the readers of the grant," said Ramirez. "We received that one and had a grant form 2003 to 2006. We saw the value in it because it provides money to provide training for teachers and the goal is to improve their knowledge and appreciation for traditional American History."

It was that attitude that Ramirez was commended on just as much as the $1 million figure at a La Joya ISD School Board meeting July 26. Ramirez received the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) Distinguished Teaching Achievement (DTA) Award. Ramirez was just one of 20 people from the United States and Canada who were selected for the honor. Ramirez will be presented the DTA award plaque at an awards banquet Oct 20 at the NCGE annual meeting in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

While the award he is to receive is given to those who have "made outstanding contributions to Geographic Education", Ramirez remains focused on what he believes his primary goal as Social Studies Coordinator is.

"I’m here as a support person and I don’t tell principals and teachers what to do," said Ramirez. "I am here to support the initiatives that campuses have developed. It all happens in the classroom and the toughest job is that of being a teacher."

Ramirez should know.

After starting his career in education as a Rio Grande City 7th Grade mathematics teacher, where he taught for three years, Ramirez transferred to La Joya in 1985 where he served as a Language Arts, Geography, Student Leadership, Texas History, U.S. History and Contemporary World Cultures teacher at different middle schools in the La Joya school district.

Now, as the Social Studies Coordinator, Ramirez is looking forward to watching the PUSH grant work in the district.

"The PUSH project is going to help teachers first by improving teachers’ knowledge of American History," Ramirez said. "Our belief is that when the teachers get strong and real passionate about learning history, especially since they are going to travel to museums in the East Coast in the summer, that they will come back really energized and share that energy with the students to get them energized as well. There are two things working here which are improving the teachers’ knowledge base of history and getting teachers and students passionate and excited about it."