They say, “It is not over until the fat lady sings!”I just want to say thank you, to all of you who voted for me, and for all of you who supported me! Know that I will be working for all the voters of the Hayward School District and for your children and grandchildren! I thank you again for trusting in me. Trust, is an important word, thank you for giving me your trust and confidence. I will not let you down, and disappoint you. Now we have to plan for the following election year 2024…
We still find ourselves in a crazy world where the gas prices are scaling up to almost $7.00 per gallon or higher. Inflation is still driving the prices to the ceiling… and most important if you are a parent or grandparent like myself we still have to worry about our children, and grandchildren in school. This year (2023) they were trying to indoctrinate our children and grandchildren…
There may not be too much we can do about the price of gas or inflation, but there is something we can do about our children in school! My name is Joe Ramos, and I am running again for the HAYWARD SCHOOL BOARD. Thank you for taking the time to read my site.
Thank you again, for voting for me. Thank you again for supporting me. Let us change the way our schools are functioning in Hayward, California, for the better.
Why are some people running for school board, for political office, what is their agenda? Why do some people want to stay on the school board after serving two terms in the past? I don’t know the answer to that question. However, I know my “why?” I have been in the classroom I began by teaching special education to sheltered English classes, to teaching reading, literacy and other subjects to middle school, high school, and adult school students to teaching adults, public speaking to Spanish.
Simon Sinek once wrote, “Start With Why.” “If we don’t understand the cause, then even the right answers will always steer us wrong…eventually. The truth, you see is always revealed…eventually” (1). We should always ask ourselves, the question “why?”
I find that the people who call the shots are not necessarily the teachers or sometimes even the administrators or the principles, they are the teachers unions, and other unions that see the school district as a “cash cow.” The school board members are suppose to be in charge, but many times, they are not because, the other special interest groups are there to make money at our children’s expense.
Running For School Board…
The Hayward Unified School District School Board is much like 80% of other School Boards, they are controlled by the unions. It is because of this that the unions select people to run for the school board or other people run for school board because they have future goals of running for another seat, some do not have any children. They are not even parents! Why do they want to be on the school board? You should ask yourself this question, why do they want to be on the school board? The big question is why? You will want to see this video clip, Why California Parents are running for school boards, by Shawn Steel.
If you remember what I said in the previous paragraph, when we are talking about elections or any other type of elected position we always have to ask, Why is that person running for school board or any other elected position? The big question is always “Why?” Remember all things in life, “Start With Why?” I strongly recommend you read this book! They say, “Readers are Leaders.”
What is going on with the Hayward Unified School District ? Why are the reading and math scores so low?
One reason, I left teaching at the lower grades, there were people who wanted to influence our children, to follow norms that were contrary to their parents home values. This is what is happening today. They do not want to teach our children moral. They instead want to indoctrinate your children, and mine in ideology contrary to our “values.”
I returned to the university and received a second masters degree in Education (Adult Education) from San Francisco State University (2011). I learned among the way that there is too much corruption on many school boards. I have been an adult education instructor to second language learners. I have been a community college instructor in the community college system and at a private university after receiving my fourth masters degree in English (Composition) from San Francisco State University (2014).
I have always taught my students young or old,” to be critical thinkers, and readers. I am probably the most qualified person running for the Hayward Unified School District School Board. Not just in my education, but my experiences in the military, in the “Marines” working with nonprofits, working with two probation departments, being a volunteer, and being a mentor, to men and “at risk” youth. Right now, certain people want to indoctrinate our children into their way of thinking, one example is “critical race theory.” If you care for your children or grandchildren make your choice!
Surplus Property Advisory Committee Report to the Board
One thing the public, that means you parents who have children in the Hayward Unified School District might want to know about, is this report that was written for the HUSD called the Board Resolution # 2223-09 Appendix A:
7-11 Surplus Property Advisory Committee Report to the Board was written for the June 22, 2022 Board Meeting report pursuant to Education Code 17387 et al and Board Resolution # 2122-38 on February 23, 2002. They met to outline the bylaws, and look at the surplus properties in the HUSD under consideration, and communicate to the Board goals for the sale of these surplus properties. The objective of the committee was , according to the report was to, facilitate obtaining community input; review community input data and to develop the findings. Then to report those findings to the Board for each property. In essence the board was trying to find a rational to conduct a quick sale of these properties. There are 8 properties listed in the report:
1. Former Bidwell Elementary / 2. Former Bowmen Elementary / 3.Former Cherryland Site 4. Former Student Information & Assessment Center/ 5. Former Strobridge Elementary / 6. Highland Site / 7. Laurel Site / 8. Piexoto Site / According to the HUSD website The Board adopted Resolution #2122-42 on March 23, 2022. (The report is 144 pages long.)
Ten members were appointed to this committee. They still have not decided what is going to happen to these surplus properties. Some school board members were for selling these surplus properties. If those surplus properties are sold the only people that will benefit are the developers who buy them and the realtors who will collect a big commission check. This takes me back to my original question of “Why?” Makes you want to think and ponder?
If you were at the Hayward Unified School District’s School Board Meeting, on Wednesday, September 28, 2022. (You could probably watch it on the HUSD website). If you look behind the scenes you would discover that in the current school board, the main person who was trying to make the “quick sale” to “Sell” some of HUSD’s Surplus Property was the former school board president April Oquenda, (now the current Vice-President). However, Why was that ? There we go again with Why?
This issue of the surplus property should be something that should be discussed in the open. It should be put to a vote or a referendum? As I mentioned previously, the only people benefiting from this action are the real estate developers, and the real estate person who gets a ‘big” commission for the sale of these properties.
My Five points in running for the Hayward School Board still are:
1. “Balancing the Budget.” You cannot spend $2,000 dollars a month for your expenses when there are only $1,000 dollars in your checking account.
2. We have to go back to the “Basics,” what they use to call the 3 Rs’ Reading, Rriting, and ‘Rithmetic, (Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic).Hayward students have some of the lowest reading scores in the San Francisco Bay area.
3. We have to raise the reading scores in the Hayward School District. I am very interested in literacy scores, especially when we have two institutions of higher learning, Chabot College and California State University – East Bay, in Hayward. We should be able to get more volunteers, hire many tutors, recruit teachers and paraprofessionals from these schools and the community. They do this in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I know how it can be done here in Hayward, California.
4. We also need to have more parental involvement, and parental input on some of the courses taught to their children. We also have to have parents vote on issues pertaining to their children’s schools. This could take place at the schools.
5. Safety is another point, though I listed it last. It should be first. Should we have open or closed campuses? Are we prepared for an emergency in the areas of safety like what took place in Uvalde, Texas, (May 24,2022) where an “18 year- 0ld gunman wielding an AR-15- style rifle killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde Texas.”(Source: New York Times, August 25, 2022).
Teaching
My first job as a teacher was in the area of Special Education for the Hayward Unified School District. I went straight from the “Marines” on a Monday to teaching a special ed class in Hayward on a Friday in the same week at La Vista Middle School, now Cesar Chavez Middle School. Later I taught at Ochoa Middle School, Hayward High, and Tennyson, and several other school districts in the East Bay. In addition to this I hold an adult education credential and have taught citizenship, and also ESL at two adult schools. I taught English composition or what is called IRW, Integrated Reading and Writing at a community college, and private university. Experience counts, I come to this position to the HUSD School Board with much experience not just theories.
My strong desire is to help our children with the written word. We need to raise the reading scores within our schools. I know it from working with middle school students who could not read but were pushed or moved along.
Ask any person who has spent many years as a volunteer in the prison system “behind bars,” about inmates who cannot read. I know first hand that low reading scores in the 2nd-4th grade are one of the greatest contributors to ending up in prison.
We all have to make choices in life, and the paths we choose are what directs our life. We sometimes have to choose the different path. These following weeks the choices we make will define our country and our communities. Please get out and vote.
Someone once wrote the following words of wisdom, “The Choices you make today, determines the life you will lead tomorrow.”
-Author Unknown-
Who is Joe Ramos?
Joe Ramos has proven leadership experience..in the Marines, with other military branches, the schools, non-profits, with two probation departments, and as a project coordinator of a gang prevention program in San Francisco, even in the jails, juvenile halls, and prisons like San Quentin.
Joe Ramos is a former U.S. Marine who served his country for 18 years in the United States Marine Corps. (He is a former educator, former middle school, HS, adult ed teacher, and community college instructor). Joe is a well rounded individual, that spent his earlier years as a U.S. Marine, as a student, as a teacher and/ or instructor. In social justice positions as a volunteer in the juvenile justice and in the criminal justice system. Joe has worked with several non-profits, youth organizations, several churches and church groups.
Joe grew up on Chicago’s violent west side in a community called “Pilsen.” He only passed algebra and gym as a freshman. Joe stopped attending his last two favorite classes, English and history because of the gangs, violence, and the shootings. Through the intervention of an Italian priest, Joe was accepted at Holy Trinity High School, a Catholic High School on Chicago’s north side. Joe made up the credits he lost by going to summer school for two summers, and getting college credit at a local community college. Joe received a scholarship to attend Northern Illinois University-Dekalb, Illinois. After graduating from NIU, with his BA. Joe joined the US Marine Corps. This decision positively effected his life, he was taught to be a Communicator, Logistics / Embarkation NCO, & most of all a “leader” of Marines. In addition to becoming a Logistics Chief and (MMO). He was trained as an instructor. His last position on active-duty was an Inspector-Instructor known as I & I duty with a group of active duty and reserve Marines. Gunnery Sergeant Ramos next goal was to become a special education teacher and work with “at-risk youth, once released from active-duty. Joe’s first masters degree in special education was paid for by the U.S. Marine Corps. The rest of his degrees he had to pay for.
Joe Ramos and his Marine Corps buddies, before a training mission.
Joe was a former Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Gunnery Sergeant Ramos’ last position on active duty was as a Maintenance Management Officer (MMO). The Marine Corps selects highly qualified Marines from the rank of Staff Sergeant to Major to become a Maintenance Management Officer.
Joe became a MMO as a Staff Sergeant. He was also the Logistics Chief, where he was entrusted with millions of dollars of military equipment, Hawk Missiles, engineer equipment, military trucks, vehicles and other military equipment including facilities. He was also responsible for the reconciliation of the Budget.
The 4TH LAAM BN., was activated to Desert Storm in 1991. The 4th LAAM BN., Staff and the Reservists of 4th LAAM BN. received a Certificate of Commendation from Mayor Sweeney and the City of Hayward.
Four years earlier, Joe Ramos and his family joined a church when they arrived in 1987 to become part of the Hayward Community. Joe and his wife loved Hayward and decided to settle down in Hayward, in 1990 they bought a home in Hayward. Shortly after returning from Desert Storm, Joe Ramos and his family decided to make Hayward their “New Home.” Gunnery Sergeant (E-7), Joe Ramos left active duty in the “Marines,” then joined a US Marine Corps Reserve unit and was stationed in the reserves in Alameda, CA.
Shortly after this, he began to work for HUSD as a Special Education Teacher. Joe is a former educator. He has taught middle school, high school, adult school and was a community college instructor. Joe was also a substitute teacher in various school districts in the East Bay, including the Hayward Unified School District.
Degrees, Awards, and Recognitions
Joe’s daughter is a product of Hayward schools, including elementary, middle, and high school. Joe is very competitive and has earned two masters degrees in education, one in special education, the second masters in adult education (2011). (SFSU) and another masters in English: Composition from San Francisco State University (2014). He also has earned graduate certificates to teach reading and composition.
Joe attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where he received a fellowship, worked for the city of Milwaukee, and two non profits. Joe completed his second masters degree in urban studies (2000).
San Francisco State University (2011) MA Adult Education
Joe attended San Francisco State University where he completed his third masters degree in Education (Adult Education) (2011).
San Francisco State University (2014) MA English: Composition
Joe continued at San Francisco State University where he completed his 4th masters degree in English: Composition (2014).
San Francisco State University (2009)
Joe Ramos has also worked with several non-profits, who work with youth groups such as the Boy Scouts of America.
Joe Ramos has also worked with the Boys and Girls Club in Partnership with the San Francisco Probation Department, in partnership with a Gang Prevention Project.
Joe Ramos has worked with city and county agencies in San Francisco in the criminal justice system as a program coordinator for a gang prevention program.
Joe has also worked as a volunteer with City and County agencies, in Alameda County, and in Oakland as a volunteer with the Oakland Glenn E. Dyer Jail, and the Santa Rita Jail, and he has worked with adult inmates and with high risk-youth.
in the Glenn E. Dyer Jail in Oakland, CA, the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin CA, San Quentin Prison,
and the juvenile justice center in San Leandro, CA – (February 2002-March 2020)
Joe has been involved with prison ministry until the closure of the jails and prisons due to Covid 19, in March 2020. He has served adult inmates in English and Spanish, and also troubled, “at-risk” youth.
Joe has been a role model for his daughter, who attended and graduated from Hayward Public Schools. She attended Chabot College, where she graduated, receiving two associate degrees from Chabot College, AA – Photography – AA – Spanish before moving up to San Francisco State University and graduating with two Bachelor of Art degrees BA -Art: Photography, BA-Latino Studies.
Now her son is carrying on the family tradition and is a first grader in a Hayward Public School.
Please Vote, Joe Ramos for Hayward School Board. He served you then,(USMC) He will serve you now.