MONTEBELLO – The Association of Two-Way & Dual Language Education (ATDLE) has named Alicia Ramos, a fifth-grade teacher at La Merced Elementary School, its 2015 Teacher of the Year. With 20 years of teaching experience as a bilingual and two-way bilingual immersion teacher, Ramos is considered an outstanding educator dedicated to ensuring that her students and families are firmly on the path toward reaching biliteracy goals.

“I’m so proud that Alicia was chosen to exemplify, on a national scale, the hard work that happens in our District,” Montebello Unified Board President Edgar Cisneros said. “This award recognizes her incredible talent and tireless commitment to students and the ability to work well with her entire school community.”

Ramos was presented the Teacher of the Year award at ATDLE’s 23rd annual National Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Conference on June 29 in Palm Springs.

“I believe that through these second-language opportunities, with the development of self-awareness and cultural understanding, students will be able to stay connected to their families and aspire to complete their advanced schooling as they engage in today’s global society,” Ramos said.

In addition to teaching for the past 17 years in her MUSD dual-language classroom, Ramos helped organize parents and supporters, working with the District to assist in the adoption of an ethnic studies high school graduation requirement. As a result, dual-language high school students will have continued access to quality language courses, but will also be able to begin to study related culture and history.

“Alicia’s ability and skill in implementing the instructional program in two languages is exceptional,” MUSD Superintendent of Schools Susanna Contreras Smith said. “Her work ethic and her commitment to moving her students toward biliteracy is unwavering; she is a tremendous asset at Montebello Unified.”

Ramos also serves as a representative in MUSD’s Dual Immersion Advisory Council, which supports students and parents in the dual immersion program by facilitating parent meetings that disseminate District-level information. She has led workshops for parents in Spanish and participated in the Latino Family Literacy Project.

She also participated as a presenter on the benefits of bilingualism at Montebello Unified’s inaugural Global Learning Conference in May.

“We are proud of Alicia’s work as a classroom teacher, her contributions to the MUSD community and her strong commitment to biliteracy for all of her students,” La Merced Principal Rebecca Castro said. “She will continue to be an outstanding educational leader.”

Ramos will soon embark in a Masters of Arts program in educational administration as she prepares for a leadership role as an administrator at a dual-language school.

ATDLE, a leading national organization, promotes highly effective two-way bilingual immersion and dual-language educational programs that further multilingualism, academic success and the development of cross cultural competencies for all students.

Photo Caption:

The Association of Two-Way & Dual Language Education (ATDLE) has named Alicia Ramos, a Montebello Unified fifth-grade teacher at La Merced Elementary School, its 2015 Teacher of the Year on June 29 at its annual conference. She is pictured here with her award and MUSD administrators.