As Seen on TV
Video by Patrick Kuehn - Thank you!
By Jolanie Martinez
Published: Feb. 26, 2022 at 7:51 PM PST|Updated: Feb. 27, 2022 at 2:20 AM PST
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The former principal of the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind is getting his job back.
In 2019, the state Department of Education complex superintendent recommended that Angel Ramos, who was principal at the time, be demoted. The department brought in a temporarily assigned principal and transferred Ramos to another campus. At that time, DOE said they would not talk about personnel matters. But a state arbitrator has now said he must be reinstated.
Ramos says he’s thrilled to be returning to the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind. He said it’s the start to a new beginning and is ready to rebuild the school again. “To be honest with you, three years has been tough ... but I’m happy it’s over,” said Ramos. Ramos is looking forward to seeing his students and teachers again. “I missed everything about the school,” said Ramos, who is deaf and fluent in ASL.
Students and staff say the school regressed after he left. “When Dr. Ramos left, of course, all the students were sad,” said HSDB student Eva Silva-Ewan. “You know, our mental health went down. We weren’t happy as we used to be, sometimes people were missing classes.” And now they’re looking forward to seeing him around campus again following a state arbitrator’s orders. “He’s very encouraging to students,” said HSDB student Dane Silva-Ewan. “He encourages them to do well and do their best in school.”
“I am very happy, I am excited that he will come back to where we left off, we may have to play a little bit of catch up,” said former Vice Principal of Steve Laracuente. “Because it looks like this school has stopped a few programs.” Moving forward, Ramos and his former colleagues want to establish their own board of directors with majority of them deaf. “People who are experts in deaf education, representatives from the deaf community, perhaps even students who can give feedback to the school on how they can improve.” “We must get away from DOE management, make us independent,” said Ramos. “Let us run the school, we know what’s best for deaf students.”
A spokeswoman from DOE released the following statement:
“The Department is in receipt of the arbitrator’s report and is reviewing and discussing next steps. We cannot discuss further details of this personnel matter at this time.”
Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
PICKET RALLY AT HSDB
RALLY AT PAKI PARK
Aloha nui loa...
More than 50 Hawaiian Deaf locals showed up this successful rally. We share facts relating to HSDB situation. We listened to the HSDB students, staff and teachers about their experience on current situation at Hawai'i School for the Deaf and the Blind. We raised more than $400, 650 petition signatures and thousands of social media views. More videos are coming soon.
We want to thank EVERY PERSON individually for their support and time attending this rally.
Bring Dr. Angel Ramos BACK!
Mahalo nui loa...
VIDEOS
As Seen on TV
Video by Patrick Kuehn - Thank you!
By Jolanie Martinez
Published: Feb. 26, 2022 at 7:51 PM PST|Updated: Feb. 27, 2022 at 2:20 AM PST
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The former principal of the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind is getting his job back.
In 2019, the state Department of Education complex superintendent recommended that Angel Ramos, who was principal at the time, be demoted. The department brought in a temporarily assigned principal and transferred Ramos to another campus. At that time, DOE said they would not talk about personnel matters. But a state arbitrator has now said he must be reinstated.
Ramos says he’s thrilled to be returning to the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind. He said it’s the start to a new beginning and is ready to rebuild the school again. “To be honest with you, three years has been tough ... but I’m happy it’s over,” said Ramos. Ramos is looking forward to seeing his students and teachers again. “I missed everything about the school,” said Ramos, who is deaf and fluent in ASL.
Students and staff say the school regressed after he left. “When Dr. Ramos left, of course, all the students were sad,” said HSDB student Eva Silva-Ewan. “You know, our mental health went down. We weren’t happy as we used to be, sometimes people were missing classes.” And now they’re looking forward to seeing him around campus again following a state arbitrator’s orders. “He’s very encouraging to students,” said HSDB student Dane Silva-Ewan. “He encourages them to do well and do their best in school.”
“I am very happy, I am excited that he will come back to where we left off, we may have to play a little bit of catch up,” said former Vice Principal of Steve Laracuente. “Because it looks like this school has stopped a few programs.” Moving forward, Ramos and his former colleagues want to establish their own board of directors with majority of them deaf. “People who are experts in deaf education, representatives from the deaf community, perhaps even students who can give feedback to the school on how they can improve.” “We must get away from DOE management, make us independent,” said Ramos. “Let us run the school, we know what’s best for deaf students.”
A spokeswoman from DOE released the following statement:
“The Department is in receipt of the arbitrator’s report and is reviewing and discussing next steps. We cannot discuss further details of this personnel matter at this time.”
Copyright 2022 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
PRESS
EDITORIAL | LETTERS
Letter: School, students need deaf principal back
Aug. 17, 2019
Frustration is growing within the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind (HSDB) these days. Why? Because our only deaf principal was removed from the HSDB administration office. In just three years, the deaf principal helped HSDB become a nationally accredited school with Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Having a deaf principal in charge lifts the students to self-directed learner level. Most of the staff and teachers are dedicated to educating young minds by empowering them using ASL. Students have 100% access to communication on the HSDB campus.
The new administrator is hearing and does not sign, and has no knowledge of deaf education. HSDB teachers, staff, parents and students were never asked their opinions of how important it is to have a deaf principal. We want to bring back our deaf principal, and out of the dark ages into the light. We want deaf education to move forward, not backward. Bring our deaf principal back to HSDB.
Ed Chevy
Ewa Beach
Aug. 30, 2019. 5:47pm HST
