Lisa Ramirez has served 22 years with the Lubbock Independent School District Regional Day School Program for the Deaf. She is a member of First Baptist Church in Lubbock. From deep in the heart of one Texan, she shares her background and thoughts on being a Christian in public education. To suggest a Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated educator to be featured in this column, or to apply to be featured yourself, click here.
Background
Where else have you served, and what were your positions there?
From 1993 to 1996, I was a classroom Deaf Education Teacher at Presbyterian Ear Institute/La Vos de Ninos, a private oral school for the deaf in Albuquerque, N.M.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Oral schools for the deaf teach oral and auditory communication skills without sign language using spoken language and amplification systems like hearing aids or cochlear implants.
From 1996 to 1999, I worked for Albuquerque Public Schools as an elementary classroom deaf education teacher in an oral classroom.
From 1999 to 2019, I was a high school, middle school and elementary school classroom with Lubbock ISD Regional Day School Program for the Deaf. From 2019 to present, I have been an itinerant deaf education teacher.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Lubbock.
How did you come to faith in Christ?
I grew up going to church regularly with my family and accepted Christ and was baptized when I was 5. I found a deeper relationship with Christ during college.
Where were you educated, and what degrees did you receive?
I went to Texas Tech University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in deaf education.
About education
Why do you feel called into education?
I didn’t feel called into education at first, but when I took my first American Sign Language class, I was required to do classroom observations. That is when I discovered I wanted to be a deaf education teacher.
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I loved the idea of teaching smaller groups and really working on helping students discover a sense of self and that they could accomplish anything they wanted if they worked really hard at it.
How does being a Christian influence your work in education?
Growing up, I always had a heart for missions and wanted to be a missionary, but that didn’t work out after graduating from high school. So, my other option was college.
As I began my teaching career, I discovered my students were more than just a class; they were my mission field. I may have taught them reading, writing, math, science and social studies, but there was a lot more involved than just academics.
I loved my students. I helped them understand their emotions and others’ emotions. I helped them develop language and experience many new things. I prayed for all my students and prayed for God to show me how I could help them and show them the love of God.
What is your favorite aspect of education? Why?
Having small classes really gives me the opportunity to know my students, develop a great relationship and love them.
What one aspect of education gives you the greatest joy?
I love it when my students make improvement in a certain subject and recognize they did it themselves. Not the teacher, not their parents, but they made the accomplishment. This builds their confidence, which spreads to other subjects.
What is your favorite subject to teach? Why?
My favorite subject to teach is reading, because once they become a good reader they can excel in any other subject.
What one aspect of education would you like to change?
I would love to change the way we do testing. Students and teachers get so stressed out with STAAR testing that they develop physical symptoms. It’s very frustrating to see a student who is ready for the test freak out on test day and not test well. After that, all they see themselves as is someone who can’t pass the test.
How has your place in education or your perspective on education changed?
There are a lot of great teachers out there working their hardest to teach and who feel defeated in the long run.
As our culture changes, education changes. Students and families are very different than when I started teaching in 1993. Students don’t respect their teachers, or any adults. Parents don’t support the teachers as being right when their child is in the wrong. It is a whole new battleground, and teachers have to learn how to work with these different students and families.
Technology has changed the face of education, as well. Children today get bored so easily. Teachers have to be creative and have a lot of activities in the classroom that will teach the content as well as keep students busy.
How do you expect education to change in the next 10 to 20 years?
I think school will be more technology-based in the next 10 to 20 years. Technology is expensive. How are schools going to keep up with the advancements? Once a school is set up with electronic tablets and good Wi-Fi, it already is behind on what is best.
Also, I don’t think virtual learning is going away once COVID is in control. I think it will be more common for families to choose virtual home school. There still will be families that can’t afford the technology and don’t have access to better technology for learning; so, their children will be behind others academically.
Name the three most significant challenges and/or influences facing education.
Changing culture, changing families and technology.
What do you wish more people knew about education?
I wish people knew how much time, effort and personal money teachers put into teaching.
If you could get one “do over” in education, what would it be, and why?
I wish I would have been able to teach preschool deaf. I love teaching language and communication.
About Baptists
Why are you Baptist?
I was raised in a Baptist church, but when our church split, my family attended a nondenominational church. I attended nondenominational churches in college and adulthood until I came back to the Baptist church when I got engaged to my husband Jerry.
What are the key issues facing Baptists—denominationally and/or congregationally?
One recent issue is attendance. So many families got used to watching church on TV or the computer because of COVID, and now that churches are opening up, not many families are coming back. They are comfortable watching from home. How does the church draw these families back to meeting regularly at church instead of just watching on a TV or computer?
About Lisa
Other than the Bible, name some of your favorite books or authors, and explain why.
Beth Moore is a favorite author of Bible studies, because she goes deep into the verses, teaches the history and connects the learner with God.
David Platt challenges your faith and walk with Christ.
Lynn Austin and Francine Rivers write wonderful fiction based on the Scriptures and give a visual of wonderful stories in the Old Testament.
Bob Goff is funny, to the point and challenges you to live out your faith daily.
What is your favorite Bible verse or passage? Why?
Philippians 4:13. This verse was my go-to when I was younger and had a challenge in front of me. I can do all things, not some or a few, but all things through Christ who gives me strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9. This verse helped me during a really tough time after my father passed away and I was dealing with anxiety. I was able to stand in faith on this verse when I was anxious and scared. God was strong when I felt like it was impossible.
Who is your favorite person in the Bible, other than Jesus? Why?
Job, because he stood on his faith in God. No matter what happened to him, he continued to believe God is good and was there for him.
Name something about you that would surprise people who know you.
Sometimes, I can be shy and uncomfortable in large crowds.
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