Best of Siloam Springs

"It was a complete surprise to me," he said. "e whole association was just very good to me and very kind to me and I was proud to win it." roughout all of the triumphs and tragedies, Ramey says the people are what kept him going, and that some of his favorite moments from working in Siloam Springs are the relationships that he built and the trust that he formed. "Beginning to work closely with the school board, developing trust and building relationships were some of the best things I did here," he said. Ramey also noted that building the high school was a huge accomplishment and one that he is proud of. "I'm most appreciative of being able to build a high school, something that you don't build every 45 to 55 years," he said. Now Ramey watches from the sidelines. "I've tried to stay completely out of the way and not judge on anything that's going on," he said. High Praise for Ramey Despite taking a step back from the world of public education, the district's school board members, four of which were first elected under his watch, are still his biggest cheerleaders. "I had the pleasure of serving a short time on the school board while Mr. Ramey was superintendent, however our family was blessed over many years by his leadership," said school board member Travis Jackson. He continued, "With my wife, Monica, being a teacher during his tenure and with all of our children coming through the school system, we experienced firsthand his love and devotion to the children and staff of our district." Audra Farrell, the school board's vice president, also chimed in, noting how Ramey is deserving of the honor of the Pioneer Citizen Award. "Mr. Ramey has been an incredible representative for our school district and our community," Farrell said. "He has enriched and touched the lives of many and is very worthy of this honor." Grant Loyd, a current school board member who was elected months before Ramey stepped down, was in high school when Ramey was the principal. "Mr. Ramey was the principal at Siloam Springs High School when I came through, and I will always remember the impact that he had on me one night aer a game," Loyd recalled. "As I was coming off the field, he stopped me to tell me that was a great block I had during the game. It may not seem like a big gesture to some, but as a high schooler it stood out to me that my principal noticed a receiver making a block that usually goes unnoticed and let me know he noticed. "ose kinds of moments are what I think of when I think of Mr. Ramey," continued Loyd. "He always takes the time to let people know that he notices them. He is selfless and the definition of a servant leader to many. Mr. Ramey impacted more than he will ever know, by simply just being himself – kind, caring and watchful." Teachers: e Most Important Asset Ramey stepped down in June 2019 aer nearly 20 years in the role and less than a year before the onset of the pandemic. He said that he's glad he got out when he did, but it's disappointing how hard everything has been since then. "COVID has been a disaster for everybody, but especially for kids and families," said Ramey. "It's been really hard. I think the victims, besides the children and their families, are the teachers. "ey have really been through a lot of hardship over having to learn how to instruct online and how to adjust. I'd imagine learning loss has been staggering," he added. Ramey noted that teachers are the most important asset to the district. "Any school district is built on the heart and soul of the teachers," he said. "Teachers are the ones that make the difference. ey're the ones that are with the children in the classroom everyday." Ramey went on to comment on how education has evolved, noting that the last few years have been particularly challenging and overly political. "I think we are all better off if we keep politics out of education, but it just seems to continue wrapping itself around it," said Ramey. "We don't need to be too far to the right, we don't need to be too far to the le; we need to be in the middle, pulling people together and working together so everyone sees the best interest of the kids. "It's always easy to beat up public education. I think it's important for people to remember that public education means everybody, not just a select few. ere are a lot of buzz words right now and there has been a lot of distrust and acrimony around politics, and that's going to bleed into the public schools." Ramey said it's important to examine 22 • Best of Siloam Springs Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Siloam Springs Herald-Leader SILOAM SPRINGS 1270 Hwy 412 W, Ste A 2nd Location South of Gentry on Hwy 59 479-524-0061 Proud to serve Siloam Springs Thank you for voting us the best! Mexican Restaurant Lunch Place 479-228-2468 Let your Light shine Thank you for your vote!

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