Edgewood Elementary 2014 Teacher of the Year - Ramon A. Cruz-Lima

Ramon A. Cruz-Lima 
Edgewood Elementary
Grade 4, Bilingual Teacher

Education
Region 4 Alternative Certification Program, EC-4 Bilingual Teacher Certification, Aug. 2001- March 2003
University of Houston, Biology, Geology and English courses for ACP credit hours, July 2001
Havana University, Cuba. Diploma in Management and Administration, Oct. 1995 - Feb. 1996
Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Post grad Studies in International Economic Relations, Oct. 1995-Feb. 1996
University of Kiev, Ukraine, USSR, Bachelors of Economics with honors, July 1978 – July 1932

Teaching History
Spring Branch ISD, Edgewood Elementary, Spring Branch ISD, 2009 – PresentSchmalz Elementary, Katy ISD, 2008-2009Edgewood Elementary, Spring Branch ISD, 2000-2008
University of Ciego de Avila, Cuba, Teacher and Vice Dean

27 years total of teaching experience

In his own words…

“Our mission as teachers is to make children feel loved and respected and most importantly, to provide them and their parents with the tools and the beliefs to break the cycle of poverty. It is we, the teachers, who make the difference for these children inspiring them to dream big and compete, encouraging them to release the poet, the activist or the researcher that lives inside them.”

In the words of others . . .

“Mr. Ramon Cruz exhibits all the attributes Spring Branch ISD values in a teacher. There is something very magical about a teacher that can hold very high expectations of his students and at the same time be highly respected by his students.”
– Vivan Pratts, Edgewood Elementary Principal

“It is a delight to enter Mr. Cruz-Lima’s bilingual classroom. The classroom is alive with all of the students actively engaged in their learning. They are talking and writing to support their understanding of the content. The students work together, in pairs or small groups, on hands-on activities. Frequently, the students use technology to take their learning beyond the classroom.”
– Linder Alderman, Edgewood Elementary Interdisciplinary Coach

Selected Honors, Awards & Activities:
Excellence in Teaching Ambassador, Teaching for America, 2013
Bilingual Student Mentor, St. Thomas University and University of Houston Downtown, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011
TEA Textbook Review Panel, member, 2007

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