In the heart of Fort Worth’s diverse and growing community, education is not just about books and exams; it is a beacon of opportunity, inclusion, and empowerment. At the forefront of this transformative mission is Dr. Angelica M. Ramsey, Fort Worth’s visionary school district Superintendent whose commitment to bilingual education is redefining academic success for Latino students. With a career marked by resilience and a passion for bridging linguistic divides, Dr. Ramsey is dedicated to ensuring that every child, regardless of their primary language, has access to an enriching and equitable learning experience. Infórmate DFW had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Ramsey to discuss her vision, strategies, and heartfelt commitment to making a lasting difference in the lives of her students.
As a first-generation Mexican American and an Army veteran, Dr. Ramsey always looked for ways to serve. “My dad died when I was 18, so my mother had to work but because her check didn’t even cover the rent, I had to work as well to make up for the money we needed to pay the rest of the bills. I was a caregiver, and anything I needed to do, whether it was school or work, had to be around my mom’s schedule because she didn’t drive. When she passed from lung cancer, I was 24 years old and for the first time in my life, I could think about what I wanted to do for myself,” states Dr. Ramsey. “And after a bit of soul-searching, I knew I wanted to be an educator, hands down.”
It would take six years for Dr. Ramsey to get her college degree due to so many challenges and responsibilities, but she finished. “I didn’t do it alone,” states Dr. Ramsey. “From the very beginning in elementary school and even through high school, I had educators, teachers, and teachers aids that helped me and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them. Literally that’s why I went into education, I wanted to do the same for others, especially the ESL kids.” Dr. Ramsey is driven by the fact that she was an ESL student herself.
“I started elementary school not speaking English, becoming bilingual to then teaching, being a principal and eventually becoming a Superintendent – I didn’t think I was smart enough or capable, but I came this far because people believed in me, and I know there are kids out there that feel the same way. I see myself in them,” states Dr. Ramsey.
Because she has experienced some of the disadvantages ESL students have to go through, Dr. Ramsey has made it her mission to foster a supportive and inclusive school environment where non-English speaking students have equal access to educational opportunities within the district. “I learned really early on, that if you had a misnomer in education such as being what we call now ‘emergent bilingual’, you couldn’t qualify for things like gifted and talented,” states Dr. Ramsey. “So when I was a teacher and part of the ESL department at the school where I taught, we came up with a program to do screeners for screeners for TAG that weren’t language heavy. There were really gifted students out there who were just developing their English skills just falling through the cracks and this just opened so many opportunities for these kids.” Dr. Ramsey got proof that the program was successful years later when she ran into the very first student that went through the program. “She was a teacher at one of the schools I was visiting as a Superintendent. I truly believe our work changed the trajectory of her life,” smiles Dr. Ramsey with pride.
Another great program she worked with took place in the state of California, during her first superintendency. “I was at a shifting school district, and when I first got there, the reading scores for our Hispanic students were in the bottom quartile for the state,” recalls Dr. Ramsey. “When I left, they were in the top 10, and that’s because we were so focused on building both languages. When I first got to California, I had the opportunity to work with the state as they were rolling out and developing new standards in Language Arts, Math, and Science – all the standards embedded in them English language proficiency standards, as support for our emergent bilinguals. That was a big policy change for the state, and I’m hoping the state of Texas takes it up in an upcoming legislative session.
So many success stories throughout her career; yet Dr. Ramsey believes a child’s education is a collaborative effort between the school system, parents, and community. “Collaboration is the most important piece, it’s impossible for the school to do it alone,” states Dr. Ramsey.
At Fort Worth ISD, there is a department dedicated to partners in education that does outreach and fosters relationships with families. One of the prerequisites for these specialists is that they must serve their own communities, so they have to know their churches, their non-profits, where to get families mental-health assistance, among other services. “It’s very important that we have bilingual counselors, because these families will trust those who look and sound like them,” states Dr. Ramsey.“
A very important goal on Dr. Ramsey’s agenda is shifting what she believes is the external reputation of Fort Worth ISD. “We do great things for the kids here. We have an almost 90% graduation rate, over 60% graduate college ready, the majority of the students in elementary go to an A or B rated school, but there is a perception issue and I want to continue working on that,” states Dr. Ramsey. “They need to know the school district belongs to them, I want them to feel welcomed and safe. So we are working on our 5-year strategic plan, a huge piece of that is student and family experience. A lot of times we make decisions without talking to the people that matter and are being affected.” To help with that, she started six advisories – support staff advisory, teacher advisory, parent advisory, community advisory, student and principal advisory. According to Dr. Ramsey, the main goal is to figure out what it’s like to be a student from K-12 in Fort Worth ISD, how to improve that experience, and maybe even help families build generational wealth. “If I leave my superintendency and we start shifting where the community has ownership, I would be super happy and truly feel like I’ve done by job,” states Dr. Ramsey excitedly.
“They need to know the school district belongs to them, I want them to feel welcomed and safe. So we are working on our 5-year strategic plan, a huge piece of that is student and family experience. A lot of times we make decisions without talking to the people that matter and are being affected.”
Looking back, Dr. Ramsey feels she’s been very fortunate. “From kids that used to go to the park after school to drink water so we wouldn’t be as hungry when we got home, to Superintendent of Fort Worth ISD, I’ve had a blessed life,” states Dr. Ramsey. “It was everyone pushing me, without that support, I really didn’t think that I could, and it made all the difference. It started with the teacher’s aide in elementary school that went the extra mile so I wouldn’t fall behind after spending a week in the hospital with a bad appendix (whom I dedicated my dissertation), to my husband, who was going to be a principal but has taken a step back on his career over and over again for me to shine, and everyone in between.”
Although she has no plans to retire soon, she would love to make her way back to teaching, perhaps high school students. “It’s my dream to spend my last 3 years in the classroom, but I doubt any of my friends would hire me!” laughs Dr. Ramsey. For our Latino youth that are just getting started on their future and careers, Dr. Ramsey implores them to go into education.
“Educators are needed now more than ever. Our students need to see themselves, especially male students. We really need male teachers,” states Dr. Ramsey. “You are good enough. We all struggle, even as adults. Be confident, you’re going to be successful because you have so many people cheering for you. Get a mentor – we are never too busy to help those seeking out mentorship. Your leadership is necessary for the next generation. Don’t be afraid of success, persevere and don’t give up, no matter how long it takes, that you get there is what matters.”
Dr. Ramsey’s dedication to improving the educational journey of bilingual students is a testament to the power of leadership rooted in empathy and experience. Her approach and unwavering commitment to emergent English students is not just shaping Fort Worth ISD but setting a benchmark for districts nationwide. As she continues to advocate for bilingual education and implement programs that support diverse learners, Dr. Ramsey’s work reminds us of the profound impact that passionate and dedicated educators can have on their communities. Through her efforts, bilingual students are not just learning to navigate two languages—they are being empowered to succeed in a multicultural world.
