[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING SAUL RAMOS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2017

  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate 
Saul Ramos from my hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, who was 
recently named the 2017 National Education Association Education 
Support Professional, or ESP, of the year. This honor is awarded 
annually to the ESP who best demonstrates leadership in his or her 
classroom, school, and community.
  Saul began his career in 1999 as a personal aide to a visually 
impaired kindergarten student. To allow this student to work on 
classroom materials alongside his peers, Saul taught himself to read 
and write in braille so he could transcribe these materials for his 
student. Saul continued to help this student for 12 years--supporting 
and encouraging him until he graduated from high school. In his current 
capacity as an ESP at Burncoat High School, Saul has taken it upon 
himself to integrate braille into the curriculum not only to help 
students with visual impairments, but also to allow other students to 
develop a stronger understanding of alternative learning methods.
  Raised in both Puerto Rico and Worcester, Saul founded and now serves 
as the artistic director of a nonprofit called Arte Latino of New 
England to encourage Latinos in our community, especially those in 
their youth, to embrace their cultural heritage through art. Just one 
of his many creative initiatives aimed at helping Latino students to 
build confidence and embrace their roots, Saul wrote and produced a 
bilingual adaptation of ``Romeo and Juliet.''
  Beyond the classroom, Saul is an incredible activist for teachers and 
students. He is the vice president of his local teachers union and is 
an active member on four committees of the Massachusetts Teachers 
Association, which recognized Saul as last year's most valuable 
educator in the state. Saul fights tirelessly for the rights of 
teachers and students. Nationally, Saul is a member of the National 
Education Association's Paraeducator Institute Working Group, the 
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee, and is the Northeast 
regional director of the Hispanic Caucus.
  Our public schools promise to provide equal educational opportunities 
for all students, no matter their race, religion, or ability. This 
promise relies on dedicated, compassionate ESPs like Saul Ramos. On 
behalf of the teachers and students of Worcester, Massachusetts, and 
those all across the country, I thank Saul Ramos for his commitment to 
this noble profession.

                          ____________________