Cypress High Teacher of the Year Brian Ramirez and his family. AJPress Photo
• Chosen by students, parents, teachers
• Teaches high school biology, chemistry
• Came to US at age 14
LOS ANGELES, California – A Filipino-American teacher was recently honored by a local high school in Southern California for his exemplary work as an educator and mentor.
Brian Ramirez, 39, was given the Teacher of the Year award at Cypress High School in Cypress, California. Students, parents and teachers chose Ramirez, who teaches high school level biology and chemistry, for the award.
Ramirez said that he was in “total disbelief” when he learned that he had won the award, saying he knows that a lot of the other teachers he works with are “amazing at what they do for their students.”
“I am definitely humbled and honored to have been selected by students because they truly are what matters the most in education,” Ramirez told Asian Journal. “They are the reason all of us teachers work hard for, day in and day out.”
The student body has a diverse population of Caucasian, Hispanic, African American, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino and Indian students.
Ramirez had been teaching at Cypress High School for 11 years. Prior to that, he taught at Ball Junior High School for three years. He said he is passionate about teaching because he is able to make a positive impact on the youth.
“I am able to positively impact the young minds, by inspiring, empowering and giving them the necessary learning skills, such as critical thinking and the scientific approach to problem [solving], [in order for them] to grow and become the changing force in our world,” Ramirez said.
He also admitted that he also enjoys being able to share with his students the “beauty and the dynamic concepts of biology and chemistry.”
Ramirez grew up in the Philippines before moving to the US at age 14. He said that because he went through the Philippine school system, he has a great appreciation for the rigor and academic excellence in place in the country. He said his schooling in Don Bosco Makati molded him to become a teacher that brings out the strengths of his students. He also strives to instill discipline and respect in his pupils.
“I would like to thank Cypress High School for giving me the opportunity to be a part of their team and their family,” Ramirez said.
He praised his fellow teachers for being “the best in the industry” and for being the main reason their school has always excelled academically, year in and year out. He also thanked the teachers for teaching him how to improve and bring his work to a higher level.
Ramirez also praised the students of Cypress High. “The students are such a wonderful group of people. They are caring and have a lot of school pride. They are the future leaders of this country,” he said.
Ramirez is happily married to his wife Pia, 35, with whom he has three sons, Jaden (10), Ethan (8), and Dylan (5). He said he too looked forward to the day his own sons attend Cypress High School, and witness them “finish strong as they cross the podium with a diploma on graduation day.”