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Biography - John J. Ramos, Sr., Ed.D.
Prior to being named superintendent of schools in
Bridgeport
, Dr. Ramos was the Deputy Commissioner for Educational Programs and Services for the Connecticut State Department of Education in
Hartford
, a position he held since October of 2004. In that capacity, Dr. Ramos supervised two Associate State Commissioners and reported directly to the state Education Commissioner Dr. Betty Sternberg.
Dr. Ramos was responsible for everything related to teaching and learning and was in the process of developing the 2006-2010 Comprehensive Strategic Plan. In addition, he was assisting school districts in raising student achievement and closing achievement gaps, facilitating high school reform and working to develop character programs. A primary focus for Dr. Ramos was working with urban superintendents in addressing the eight
Connecticut
schools that are in the fourth year of “in need of improvement” under the No Child Left Behind law.
Dr. Ramos’ prior position was Superintendent of the Watertown Public Schools, from 2002-2004.
Watertown
serves 3,600 students and is supported by 300 employees with a $24 million budget. Within the
Watertown
community, Dr. Ramos was labeled “The Healer” as he brought together a fractured board, school district and community. Immediately upon his appointment in
Watertown
, Dr. Ramos interviewed every teacher and various staff and community leaders as part of his entry plan. This important feedback formed the basis of the district’s strategic plan. The
Connecticut
Center
for School Change awarded
Watertown
a highly competitive four-year instructional improvement grant to implement the strategic plan. The district also pursued an initiative dubbed “Watertown Values Education” to generate community support.
Under Dr. Ramos’ leadership, several programs were established, including the Watertown Public School Education Foundation and the Watertown High School Alumni Association. Additionally, Dr. Ramos started a monthly cable television program and a regular schedule of community presentations.
Using a distributive leadership model, Dr. Ramos had teachers take on leadership roles helping one another through a “Protocol Process.” The Board of Education approved additional days of in-service to enable more of this kind of active engagement on the part of teachers. In
Watertown
there were gains in the academic program due to his leadership. Over two years, reading mathematics and writing scores improved between 4 and 11 percent.
From 2000 to 2002, Dr. Ramos was Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for Norwalk Public schools, where he supervised 20 administrators. The district had 13,000 students and an annual budget of $111 million. During his tenure in Norwalk, Dr. Ramos created new technology and reading plans; led the revision of the Teacher and Administrator Evaluation system, and conducted the first system-wide professional development since 1990.
From 1989 to 2000, Dr. Ramos was principal of
Norwalk
High School
. From February until October of 1999, Dr. Ramos had a special assignment in the
Norwalk
central office in addition to his principal designation. He researched and created a comprehensive report outlining a process to address the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students, while raising the achievement levels of all students. The report was published in the April 2002 issue of “Principal Leadership.”
Earlier, Dr. Ramos served in
Providence
,
Rhode Island
from 1983 to 1989, where he was the principal/director for the
Alternative
Learning
Project
High School
. From 1982 to 1983, Dr. Ramos was director of minority student affairs for the
University
of
Rhode Island
, and from 1980 to 1982, he was a program director for the Rhode Island Department of Education.
Dr. Ramos has “collaboration at the core of his management style,” though he can be relentless when necessary. He builds off “his experience” primarily as an urban high school principal. He “listens carefully and isn’t afraid to ask for help.”
Dr. Ramos has received several awards over the years, including: “Outstanding School District Leadership,” from the Congressional Black Caucus Education Braintrust. He was a superintendent mentor for the
University
of
Connecticut
during the 2003-2004 school year. He is a graduate of Leadership Rhode Island and the Norwalk Community Leadership Institute.
Dr. Ramos received his doctorate in Educational Administration from Columbia University; his M.P.A. in Public Administration from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature from Brown University in Providence, R.I.
Contact Information:
Superintendent John J. Ramos, Sr., Ed.D.
Bridgeport Public Schools
45 Lyon Terrace - Bridgeport, CT 06604
Telephone: (203) 275-1000 Fax: (203) 576-8488
E-Mail: jramos@bridgeportedu.net
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