Dr. Heidi A. Ramirez, an education specialist who directs the Urban Education Collaborative at Temple University, has been named to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced Monday.
Ramirez, who has a doctorate in the sociology of education from Stanford, would be the first Latina and the youngest member at age 33 on the five-member commission. It was created in 2001 when the state took over the 172,000-student district, replacing the local school board.
“I believe she is the most qualified member ever appointed to the SRC in terms of educational background,” Rendell said at a press conference.
She would replace James Nevels, who resigned in August. Her appointment would require confirmation by the state Senate.
According to Temple’s Web site, Ramirez’s collaborative links the college’s education and human-development departments with schools and area districts on school reform.
She said her priority on the commission would be “working with the community to develop the kind of school supports we need to create conditions for real academic success for all students.”
Her areas of interest, according to the Web site, include “teaching and learning of high poverty, minority and linguistic minority students.”
