School board candidate to speak at Democratic luncheon

The featured speaker at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Lupe Ramirez, District 1 candidate for reelection to the Carson City School District Board of Trustees. Lupe currently serves as board Secretary and the board's designated representative to the Student Attendance Review Board and Partnership Carson City. She also serves as the board's liaison with Seeliger Elementary School and Carson High School.

In an interview with Carson Now, Ramirez said she sees the funding deficit as the greatest challenge our schools face. Since they lack the resources required to provide needed levels of support, students are struggling and teachers and support staff are being forced to take on additional responsibilities and work longer hours without compensation.

Part of the solution to this problem, Ramirez believes, is to raise awareness among legislators that our minority student population is now almost half of the student body, and these students need extra help. It's also important to encourage students to put in their best effort to get their work done without the need for extra help, also to impress on parents that their involvement is critical to the student success. She thinks the district needs to be more creative in finding ways to truly involve the parents in their children’s education.

Lupe says that she's been fortunate to be involved with higher education for 32 years, and was able to pursue her own educational dream to attain a bachelor’s degree. For the past 12 years her focus has been on increasing student success, and she is especially grateful for being given the opportunity to develop Western Nevada College's Latino Leadership Academy, for which the Nevada Association of School Boards named her the 2020 New School Board Member of the Year.

“Mrs. Ramirez joined the Carson City School Board with the understanding that her voice alone would not instigate change, but she could become a part of the governance team to guide the district,” said NASB Executive Director Debb Oliver. “Her dedication to the students of the district in this role was exemplified by her commitment to training and preparation for each meeting. She passionately advocates for the importance of education and culture within the Hispanic community, which ultimately has a positive effect on the school community. This is a well-deserved honor for Mrs. Ramirez.”

Acknowledging the award, Ramirez said, “One of the things that inspires me in both roles, as a WNC program coordinator and as a Carson City School District trustee, are the students. I see a potential in every student! All they need, in my opinion, is someone who believes in them and who is willing to help them navigate the educational system. Whenever I see our former students working in their profession, it gives me an abundance of gratification for the work done at all levels of education. I feel truly blessed to be part of both worlds! I am also extremely grateful for the support I have from my husband and my daughter.”

The NASB award is the latest in a string of honors for Ramirez. In 2018, WNC’s Latino Outreach coordinator was selected as the Nevada ACT College and Career Readiness Postsecondary Champion, which celebrates individuals who make a positive impact on their communities through their efforts to advance college and career readiness. Two years earlier, WNC selected Ramirez for the Administrative Faculty of the Year award.

The Latino Leadership Academy, founded in 2010 as the Latino Cohort, actively supports first-generation Latinos who hadn't believed they were academically prepared to attend college full-time straight out of high school. Not only are those students empowered to access skills they already possess, they are also encouraged to complete their degrees in a timely manner. In fact, the Academy's graduation rate has been better than WNC's overall graduation rate.

The Academy provides Latino students with a structured two-year academic plan, and helps them access financials aid to make it all possible. If the students need remedial English and math classes, students are able to take those courses during the summer. Whatever need may arise, the Academy is there for them. The students take classes together and they receive many levels of support beyond their professors. The support team consists of the program coordinator, an academic counselor, cohort coaches (former students from the academy) and their current academy classmates.

A firm believer that all students can succeed if provided with the right level of support, Ramirez hopes to continue focusing on student success in a second term. She believes that high school students should be encouraged to participate in dual-enrollment programs. Her own 21 year old daughter enrolled in the Jump Start program, and as a result she is now finishing a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering at UNR with a minor in Construction Management. This has allowed Lupe to experience first hand the rewards of supporting a student throughout their educational career. She wants to ensure that the same opportunity is afforded to all Carson High School students so they are able to reach their highest potential.

Lupe recently attended a conference sponsored by the National Association School Boards, where she learned about best practices to enhance school dynamics. She was especially happy to hear about ways appreciation for teachers and support staff could be shown in a more meaningful way. They are the individuals who impact students the most on a daily basis. She wants to help the board be more proactive in expressing its gratitude for the hard work of its entire dedicated workforce.

Sponsored by the Democratic Men's Committee, this event is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Monday, May 2nd, and can be attended either in person at Black Bear Diner, inside Max Casino, or online via Zoom. Lupe will take the floor after all lunch orders have been taken, around 1:30. Those wishing to be on distribution for luncheon Zoom links should email Rich Dunn, Men's Committee Events Coordinator, at richdunn@aol.com.