LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Megan Ramirez was nominated by a colleague who wishes to remain anonymous.

Ms. Ramirez is a sixth-grade teacher at Nicoloff Elementary School in the South Bay Union School District. Although she has only been teaching at the site for just over three years, she has made a tremendous and long-lasting impact on Nicoloff students, staff, and families. Ms. Ramirez epitomizes what it means to be a community educator and leader for her students.

"She is a LifeChanger because she exemplifies the best of the teaching profession – dedication to her work, genuine care for her students, a love of learning, and an inspiring belief in the life changing power of knowledge and education," the nominator said.

She is a bilingual educator who has lived in Guadalajara, Ensenada, Tijuana, Quito, Ecuador, Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, and Tulsa. Her background and experience give her a cultural awareness and global outlook that make her an ideal teacher for the community she serves. The South Bay Union community is 83% Hispanic, and nearly 50% of the families qualify for free/reduced lunches. Ms. Ramirez demonstrates an understanding and empathy that really makes a difference in the lives of her students.

Her teaching philosophy includes creating a classroom atmosphere that encourages students to take risks without fear. She believes that mistakes are an inherent part of learning and ensures that her students are not limited by a fear of failure. Ms. Ramirez also incorporates 21st Century learning in her instruction and her classroom. She uses technology and the classroom environment to inspire and nurture innovation, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving. Her classroom is a learning environment based on caring, where students care for each other and know that she cares about them as well

Ms. Ramirez works tirelessly to move students across the reading continuum throughout the school year. She does this through daily interventions, which include strategic small group instruction, one-on-one reading conferences, and informal running records.

"She leaves every professional development session with creative ways to implement new ideas to benefit her classroom," the nominator said. "Last year, 10% of her students started the year reading at grade level. By the end of the year, that number had increased to 33%, with another 13% of students on the cusp of reaching grade level."

Her ability to build positive relationships with her students creates an environment conducive to learning. She has high expectations of all her students, regardless of their experience or background. Her clear belief that all students can learn and succeed, transforms not only her students, but their families as well. 

"Meagan has an infectious energy and enthusiasm, which makes her a natural leader," the nominator said. "Her obvious dedication to her students, amazing commitment to Nicoloff, and positive attitude ensure that her colleagues will rally around her ideas and projects. Meagan is a teacher that not only talks the talk, but walks the walk."    

In addition to her role as an outstanding teacher, Ms. Ramirez led the initiative to bring Battle of the Books to Nicoloff. The program was designed to improve engagement in reading and challenge students to read rigorous texts about a variety of awareness topics. Megan established community clubs to increase community outreach, connect what students read to real world issues, and add enrichment activities to the campus. 

For example, as a supplement to the book Crenshaw, Ms. Ramirez partnered with Stand Up for Kids to bring a homeless advocate to the school as a guest speaker. Her vision and leadership of this work included a donation drive at the school, which culminated in a student activity to create hundreds of gift bags for homeless youth. What started out as a small book club in upper grades has become a massive school-wide endeavor. Battle of the Books now encompasses several grade levels and includes a kick-off event, year-end party, weekly presentations, and a final reading competition. Her ability to lead and inspire others has helped Nicoloff students develop reading habits that not only contribute to academic achievement, but have also positively influenced the school's climate and culture.

"The greatest impact that Ms. Ramirez has made on our campus is her devotion to the Battle of the Books program and the effect it has had on our student’s attitude toward reading," said Rigo Lara, Nicoloff Elementary School principal. "Students who avoided books in the past, now demonstrate a love for reading. You see kids reading books during recess, lunch, and breaks. Although Meagan will tell you that she could not do it alone, Battle of the Books started with her vision of transforming the reading culture at Nicoloff.”