Ramon Gonzalez is the founding principal of MS/HS 223The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, a secondary school in the South Bronx created in 2003. Ramon started his school in one of the most dangerous middle schools in NYC at the time. Less than 10% of his students were at grade level in Reading and Mathematics when the school was created.
Six years later, 65% of his students are on grade level in English and 85% in math. Ramon’s community activism has deeply influenced his school. Students take courses in animation, computer programming, and financial literacy. Students also participate in a school wide economy where they can earn, save, and spend “school bucks”. Other initiatives include an expanded day, week, and year program.
He has spoken internationally about community schools and school leadership development, most recently in Brazil and the Netherlands. Ramon was named a 20072008 Cahn Fellow for Distinguished Principals at Teachers College/Columbia University and received a 2011 Sloan Public Service Award. He was also awarded a 2013 Educator’s Voice Award for being an exceptional middle school principal. His school received the 2010 Intel School of Distinction Award in Mathematics and was named an International Spanish Academy by the Spanish Government in 2014.
He currently serves as a mentor for emerging principals in the Advanced Leadership Program for Assistant Principals (ALPAP), the Learning Leaders Program, and the Sage Doctoral Program. He holds a B.A. From Cornell University, M.S. From City College, M.A., Ed.M., and a doctorate from Teachers College. He has served as a trustee of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance since 2011, where he is a member of the Programming Committee.