5th Anniversary of Dr. Angel Ramos' Removal from HSDB

August 29, 2024; Honolulu, Hawai'i.

Today marks five years since Dr. Angel Ramos, a Deaf principal, was forcibly removed from his position at the Hawai'i School for the Deaf and the Blind (HSDB) for being Deaf and for standing up against his supervisor's audistic decisions. Dr. Ramos endured three years in exile as vice-principal at a hearing middle school. He, along with the Hawaiian Deaf community, fought tirelessly to reinstate him at HSDB, engaging in peaceful protests at the Hawai'i Board of Education, attending numerous legislative hearings, and making their voices heard with placards outside the school.

After three unsuccessful attempts to prove his innocence to the Hawai’i DOE, an independent arbitrator from the Hawai’i Labor Relations Board investigated the case and cleared Dr. Ramos of any wrongdoing. The arbitrator found that the Hawaii DOE had acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner and had produced “insufficient evidence” to justify the reassignment and demotion of Dr. Ramos. In fact, it was not Dr. Ramos who had violated DOE policies or laws, it was the Hawaii DOE that had grossly failed to follow their own policies and procedures. The arbitrator ordered the DOE to reinstate Dr. Ramos immediately compensated him for all his lost wages and expenses, and recommended that DOE provide Dr. Ramos with an unbiased supervisor.

The Hawaii Department of Education acted in an “arbitrary and capricious” manner when it demoted and reassigned the principal of the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind to a lower-level position at a different school three years ago, an arbitrator hearing a grievance in the case concluded late last month.

In a 34-page decision issued on Feb. 24, independent arbitrator Theodore Sakai found that the DOE failed to conduct an investigation into the concerns raised by the complex area superintendent who recommended the move and produced “insufficient evidence” to justify the reassignment and demotion of longtime deaf educator Angel Ramos.

The decision, released to Civil Beat by the DOE in response to a public records request, highlights the department’s failure to look into the basis for the concerns about Ramos brought by Rochelle Mahoe, complex area superintendent for the Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani district, and ultimately signed off on by the state’s top superintendent.

It was not only Dr. Ramos who suffered during this arbitrary removal; the Deaf students, parents, teachers, and the Deaf community were thrown into unwarranted chaos and confusion. This deeply divided the school as well as the Hawaiian Deaf communities.

This event was a devastating blow to the Hawaiian Deaf community, akin to the infamous Pearl Harbor attack. The removal of Dr. Ramos, a formidable and knowledgeable leader who stood steadfast for what is pono (righteous) for Deaf students' education and well-being, was seen as an attack by inept bureaucrats. One of the most significant milestones achieved by HSDB under Dr. Ramos' leadership was the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation in 2019, a first in the school's 105-year history. Dr. Ramos had unwavering faith in the school, its Deaf students, and his staff, despite the numerous hearing principals and inept Department of Education (DOE) administrators who viewed HSDB as a dumping ground for failed students from mainstream school systems. Because these administrators do not have any basic understanding of American Sign Language, Deaf education, and Deaf culture.

This ongoing battle for recognition and equality is not unique to the Deaf community. It parallels the struggles of women's reproductive rights being decided by white Republican men without women's input and Hawaiian cultural immersion curricula being designed by white people without native Hawaiian involvement. These examples highlight the daily challenges Deaf people face while educating Deaf students, which is exhausting physically, mentally, and spiritually.

We deeply appreciate Dr. Angel Ramos for his courage and determination to keep HSDB open, with Deaf leadership steering the school towards meaningful education and empowering future tax-paying Hawaiians. 

It's crucial to proactively host the MANA Deaf Leadership Series, where we can convene with various Deaf leaders to empower ourselves with valuable information and strategies. These sessions will cover topics such as Deafhood, understanding our rights under the ADA, and more. Stay tuned for the announcement of the MANA Deaf Leadership Series.

Angel’s triumph overcoming all the odds against him was made possible by the Aloha spirit of Hawaiian Deaf and hearing communities, the staunch supporters from the mainland USA and worldwide, and the tremendous support from the Hawaii Government Employees Association union. Despite the almost three year battle and initial setbacks, they never wavered in their belief in Dr. Ramos, and their belief was rewarded with his reinstatement. Angel is forever grateful for all his supporters, their belief in him, and fighting for his reinstatement. It is time to celebrate!!!

🙌🏾 Mahalo nui loa, Angel! 🙌🏼