RamosElementary School

History

Historical Facts

Erected: 2010
Renovations/Additions: None
Sq. Footage: 78,000
 
ramos
Luis A. Ramos (1950-2008) was born in Patillas, Puerto Rico in 1950 and moved with his family to Bethlehem in 1956.  A 34-year veteran of PPL Corporation, Ramos was a passionate leader, a compassionate community volunteer and a man who dedicated his life to the enrichment of children through education and empowerment.  He embodied the phrase that he helped coin: “Si, Se Puede,” interpreted in English as “Yes, You Can,” for Spanish-speaking students and families at ASD and beyond. You will find these words on walls inside the school.
 
Ramos provided untold leadership to Allentown School District.  He served as chair of the ASD Empowerment Team, established in 2001, and led the District’s removal from the Empowerment list in 2004, setting it on the path to improvement along with the late Dr. Mark Young and Superintendents Dr. Diane Scott and Dr. Karen S. Angello.  He became vice chairman to the ASD Community Council, partnering community leaders in business with education to assist ASD administrators and teachers in raising student academic performance.  At the state and national levels, Ramos was appointed to the Pennsylvania Board of Education in 2001, was chairman of the State Council of Basic Education and served on The National Assessment Governing Board.
 
building An inspiration to thousands of Spanish-speaking families living in the Lehigh Valley, Ramos understood the need for the  education, empowerment and success of Spanish-speaking people to shape the future of theLehigh Valley and the United  States.  He became a founding member of the Hispanic Business Council of the Lehigh Valley as well as an appointee to  the U.S. Senate Advisory Council on Hispanic Affairs.
 
 His commitment, leadership and inspiration lives on in the new Luis A. Ramos Elementary School.  The building is adjacent  to Jackson Elementary School, built in 1911. Students from the neighborhood now attend this new school next door.