Aloha, everyone. I will be back soon as HSDB principal, NOT as principal of a hearing school. I want to be very clear – I will be back as principal of HSDB.
It’s been a long time. Almost three years. During that time you have supported me and encouraged me. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support. Your support really helped me survive. The past three years have not been easy. Let me explain what has happened during that time. When DOE removed me from HSDB in August of 2019, and placed me in a hearing school, I filed a complaint with my union, HGEA. They reviewed my complaint and said “DOE is wrong!” Stacy Moniz, the union Advocacy Chief, filed a grievance with the DOE. The grievance process, which is complicated, lasts a long time. The grievance process has three steps, and in each step the decision is made by a neutral, fair person. Step 1 we lost. Who decided? My boss. The same person who filed the complaint against me, the same person who recommended my demotion. Neutral and fair? Not. I obviously lost. On to step 2. We lost. Who was the neutral and fair person? DOE admin. Neutral and fair? Not. Step 3 was arbitration, with the Hawai’i Labor Relations Board (HLRB) assigning an arbitrator who was neutral and fair. He listened to both sides. The arbitrator just announced his decision - put Dr. Ramos back as HSDB principal. YEAH!!!
My wife and I are thrilled. I know the Deaf community is thrilled. The students are thrilled. Does this mean HSDBSoar is over? No. HSDB Save Our Angel Ramos is over, yes, I am back as principal of HSDB. But HSDBSoar is now starting. You need to make sure that HSDB is managed by, and decisions made, by people who are experts in Deaf education. You cannot allow people who know nothing about Deaf education, who do not care about the students and the school. You need people who care and love the students and school, and make sure that HSDB SOARS! YOU need to do it. I will be here to support you and make sure that we work together.
One more thing. You need to continue to work with hearing people. Who supported me and fought DOE for three years? The union, all hearing people. Stacy Moniz and his assistant, Jessie Sliva, worked hard and fought for me. They never gave up. Please continue to work together. You will succeed in making HSDB SOAR and become the best school for Deaf and hard of hearing students in Hawai’i and one of the best schools in the U.S.. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you from my heart. Mahalo.