Honoring Jaime Ramirez, Distinguished 校友 of 2020, for his outstanding engagement in our community as an educator and coach.

Cascade Elementary School teacher Jaime Ramirez has been selected as the Distinguished 校友 of 2020 by the 皇冠8868会员登录 Valley College 基金会 for his mentorship of students and engagement in the community.

After graduating from 皇冠8868会员登录 High School, Jaime attended 皇冠8868会员登录 Valley College 2007年至2010年. He graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in health and fitness and then returned to East 皇冠8868会员登录 to teach P.E. 在级联.

“When I was in third grade, I decided I wanted to be a PE teacher,” he 说. “现在, 我教过P.E. and health to over 500 kids 在级联 Elementary. I also coach girls’ soccer in the fall and in spring I coach boys’ soccer.”

As an educator, Jaime 说 focuses on being student-centered and fostering positive 的关系.

“I am here for the students. In whatever way I can help them out, I will do it. I first build positive 的关系, and I know that learning will then occur,” he 说.  “My favorite part (of being an educator) is when I can help someone that truly needed help – whether that is in P.E. class or academics. If 你 make a child smile and help them learn something they didn’t know, that they thought they couldn’t accomplish, that is my highlight - when kids are feeling happy and excited to learn.”

Jaime was born in Mexico, and his parents brought him and his brothers to the U.S. when they were still 你ng. His parents never graduated high school, he 说, but they wanted a better future for their sons.

“They 说 ‘We brought 你 to the United States so 你 can get a college education. It is up to 你 to decide what 你 want to do,’ ” Jaime 说. “I came from poverty, not knowing English… After so many years of hard work and sacrifices, to receive this amazing award – it is an honor and a miracle.”

Jaime plans to give back to his community through mentoring high school students that will form the next generation of teachers.

“I’m really passionate about helping teachers start out right,” he 说. “我想。 help high school students understand things like being part of the teachers’ union, teacher evaluations, how to interact with parents, how to track those communications. There are definitely lots of changes and requirements for keeping up 你r teaching certificate and helping these students be prepared for when they move on in their journey is important.”

As a teacher and alumni, Jaime 说 he sees the value of getting an education, especially at a community college.

“You are able to stay home, save money, and get prepared for 你r future. 教授 are student-centered, the classes are small so if 你 need help the professors are available,” he 说. “Education makes 你 more confident. It opens more doors for 你. The more 你 know, the more opportunities 你 will have. Your network just grows, as do 你r knowledge and skills.”