Ramos, Irene

Contact

City: Poteet
County: Atascosa
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Preferred communication: Email

Education

Years of experience in Adult Education: 21+ years

Adult Education Experience (with roles and length of times in those roles):
Extensive experience in all areas with some over lap in roles during certain times especially when I was Program Manager which involved a bottom up building of an adult education program for ESC 2. Here are the major roles I have had: Program Manager (Director) 6 years, Special Projects Coordinator- 5 years, Supervisor- 10 years, Instructor - 8 years, Adjunct Faculty/Trainer- 5, Career Navigator- 1 year, Instructional Coach 1 year

Formal Degrees, Certifications, and Licenses: Doctorate of Jurisprudence, Saint Mary's School of Law Bachelors in Liberal Studies, Major in Education and Minor in Art, Our Lady of the Lake Associate in Arts, Studio Art and Design, Palo Alto College Teacher Certification, Generalist in all Subject; Lifetime duration

Training Preferences

How far are you willing to travel to provide training?: More than 300 miles

Are you willing to do virtual training?: Yes

Availability:

• Monday : All Day
• Tuesday : All Day
• Wednesday : All Day
• Thursday : All Day
• Friday : All Day
• Saturday : All Day
• Monday : Evening
• Tuesday : Evening
• Wednesday : Evening
• Thursday : Evening
• Friday : Evening

Availability Notes:
Willing to schedule any day with enough notice.

Area of Expertise

• Adult Basic Education : 25+ years
• Adult Learning : 25+ years
• Adult Literacy : 25+ years
• BEST Literacy 2.0 : 20-24 years
• Career Navigator : Less than 10 years
• Career Pathways : 20-24 years
• Classroom Management : 25+ years
• Communication : 25+ years
• Content Standards : 15-19 years
• Contextualization : 15-19 years
• Customer Service : 25+ years
• Writing/Composition : 25+ years
• Workplace Literacy : 15-19 years
• Team Building : 20-24 years
• Social Studies Instruction : 25+ years
• Science Instruction : 25+ years
• Retention : 25+ years
• Accessibility : Less than 5 years
• Persistence : 20-24 years
• Partnerships : Less than 10 years
• Learner Motivation : 25+ years
• Instructional Strategies : 25+ years
• Distance Learning : 10-14 years
• Employability Skills : 15-19 years
• Employer Engagement : 15-19 years
• Financial Literacy : 20-24 years
• GED Test Specific : 25+ years
• HSE/ASE Instruction : 25+ years
• Instructional Strategies : 25+ years

Other Topics:
Goal Setting, Math Manipulatives, Numeracy, Problem Solving, Consumer and Legal Rights, Enhancing Listening and Speaking Skills, Vocabulary Instruction, Increasing Fluency in Reading and Speaking, Integrating Workplace Skills into Instruction, Pedagogy Basics, Andragogy Theory, Data Analysis Basics, Individual Differences and Differentiation, Technology and AI in Adult Education, Quality Program Indicators, Curriculum Design, Lesson Planning for Adult Education, Teacher Toolkit Basics

Training Already Developed

Title	Delivery	Training Time	Can training time be adjusted?	Subject Area	Description
The New Keys to Adult Education Student Success: Motivation, Instruction & Student Engagement	Either	3-4 hours	Yes	Adult Learning	Great teaching goes beyond worksheets and textbooks by creating meaningful learning experiences that inspire students to participate, persist, and succeed. This interactive session equips educators with practical strategies, activities, and instructional techniques that bring lessons to life and increase student engagement across all content areas and instructional levels. Participants will explore proven approaches for building learner motivation, strengthening self-confidence, promoting persistence, and supporting measurable progress. The session will highlight hands-on, collaborative, and learner-centered activities that can be easily adapted for adult education classrooms, whether teaching ESL, ABE, ASE, workforce preparation, or integrated education and training programs.
Ways of Presenting and Reviewing Vocabulary	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Instructional Strategies	This presentation is designed to provide further insight into ways of teaching and reviewing vocabulary. It is aimed to help any adult ESL, ABE and HSE instructors. The whole workshop is conducted in an interactive way, to provide participants with the opportunity to put themselves in their students' shoes and experience the suggested activities themselves. The session will cover several suggestions on how to present new vocabulary and check comprehension, as well as provide more insight into the task cycle and the importance of spaced review. Participants will be provided suggestions on how to review vocabulary in an engaging and interactive manner. In the second part of the session, the participants will actually have the opportunity to apply what they've learned and practice some of the techniques mentioned in the first part of the session.
The Persistence Puzzle: What Makes Adult Learners Stay, Strive, and Succeed?	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Persistence	Student persistence remains one of the greatest challenges and surprisingly opens up opportunities in adult education. Why do some learners overcome barriers and achieve their goals while others quietly disappear after only a few classes? This session explores current research and evidence-based practices that help adult learners stay engaged, motivated, and connected to their educational journey. Participants will learn practical strategies for creating welcoming environments, strengthening learner commitment, building meaningful connections, and helping students see the relevance of instruction to their personal, educational, and workforce goals. Educators will leave with actionable tools they can implement immediately to improve student engagement, persistence, and long-term success.
The First 30 Days Matter: Building Persistence and Motivation in Adult Learners	Face-to-face	1 hour	Yes	Learner Motivation	Drawing on the work of leading researchers, including Alan Quigley, participants will examine the critical role of first impressions, intake experiences, goal setting, belonging, and learner motivation in student retention. Special attention will be given to the "first encounter" moments that can determine whether a student persists or departs. Participants will learn practical strategies for creating welcoming environments, strengthening learner commitment, building meaningful connections, and helping students see the relevance of instruction to their personal, educational, and workforce goals. Educators will leave with actionable tools they can implement immediately to improve student engagement, persistence, and long-term success.
The New Teacher as Architect: Instructional Strategies for Adult Learners	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Instructional Strategies	This session will introduce strategies for instructional design and delivery. Participants will be introduced to the Process of Thinking and how to facilitate learning in the classroom. The Knowledge Domains will be addressed, enabling participants to help students identify the skills they need to accomplish specific tasks. The first part of this session will cover Andragogy of Adult Learning, and the second part will address strategies to facilitate the learning journey. This session will address lesson planning that involves not only content but also the tools needed to navigate through it. Participants will gain more insight into how their lesson plan must be a blueprint of many working parts. Participants will gain an understanding of the importance of matching the right strategy to the content being introduced.
Curriculum by Design: Building Pathways to Learning, Employment, and Success	Face-to-face	1 hour	Yes	Adult Learning	A strong curriculum is the foundation of learner success. This interactive session explores the essential components of effective adult education curriculum design, from aligning instruction with standards and assessments to creating meaningful learning experiences that support persistence, skill development, and goal attainment. Through examples, discussions, and planning activities, participants will leave with tools and resources to strengthen existing curriculum or build new programs that improve learner engagement, achievement, and long-term success.
Blueprint for Success: Building Adult Education Curriculum That Works	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Adult Learning	Discover how to design engaging, practical curriculum for adult learners. Participants will learn strategies for creating lessons and programs that improve learner success and classroom outcomes. Participants will learn practical strategies for developing engaging, learner-centered curriculum that meets the diverse needs of adult learners in ABE, ASE, ESL, workforce preparation, and integrated education and training programs. The session will examine how to organize instruction, incorporate real-world applications, scaffold learning, and ensure alignment between curriculum, instruction, and measurable outcomes.
Beyond the Basics: Understanding How Adults Learn	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Adult Learning	Adult learners bring life experience, responsibilities, challenges, and personal goals into the classroom and effective instruction begins with understanding those realities. This engaging training explores the foundations of adult learning theory through the work of pioneers such as Malcolm Knowles and Jane Vella while connecting theory to real-world classroom practice. Participants will examine the differences between pedagogy and andragogy, explore strategies that build learner confidence and motivation, and learn how emotional intelligence, transitions, trauma, and cultural diversity impact adult learning. Educators will leave with practical tools to create supportive, learner-centered environments where adults can thrive.
Real-World Ready: Integrating Workplace Skills into Adult Learning	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Contextualization	Your teaching content like a PRO! But have you asked if your class is preparing your learners to enter employment? Are your learners ready to face the modern workplace? This session equips adult education instructors with practical strategies to contextualize lesson plans and seamlessly integrate workplace preparation activities into any Adult Education class lesson plan. Participants will learn how to align instruction with real-world tasks, helping learners build the academic and professional skills they need for success in both the workplace and their communities. Through collaborative activities and ready-to-use examples, educators will leave with actionable tools to create lessons that inspire and empower adult learners.
Unlocking Fluency: Enhancing Listening and Speaking Skills Through Vocabulary Development and Brain-Friendly Strategies	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Adult Literacy	Join us for an engaging virtual training session designed for ESL educators focused on enhancing students' listening and speaking skills through targeted vocabulary development and brain-friendly techniques. Participants will explore practical strategies to create a stimulating learning environment that fosters language acquisition and retention. Learn how to incorporate interactive activities, visual aids, and memory-enhancing methods to boost students' confidence and fluency. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with actionable insights and resources to effectively support their students in developing essential communication skills in English.
Unlocking Literacy: Enhancing Listening and Speaking Skills Through Vocabulary Development and Brain-Friendly Strategies	Face-to-face	1 hour	Yes	Accessibility	Listening is the least taught skill and yet it is half of communication. This session can benefit all basic and literacy instructors and focuses on enhancing skills through targeted vocabulary development and brain-friendly techniques. Participants will explore practical strategies to create a stimulating learning environment that fosters language acquisition and retention. Learn how to incorporate interactive activities, visual aids, and memory-enhancing methods to boost students' confidence and fluency. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with actionable insights and resources to effectively support their students in developing essential communication skills.
Effective Reading Strategies for Adult Education Teachers	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Other - Reading Strategies	This engaging training is designed specifically for adult education teachers eager to enhance their students' reading abilities and improve progress test scores. In this workshop, we will explore a variety of evidence-based reading strategies that cater to diverse learning styles and empower adult learners. From comprehension techniques to vocabulary enrichment, participants will leave equipped with practical tools, lesson plans, and resources to create a dynamic reading environment. Experience hands-on activities, collaborative discussions, and the sharing of best practices among colleagues. Empower your teaching and ignite a passion for reading in your students—let's unlock their potential together!
Steps to Goal Setting to Impact Outcomes and Students Success!	Either	2-3 hours	Yes	Other - Goal Setting	Unlock the potential of your learners and explore innovative strategies to harness critical motivation, fostering a growth mindset and enhancing learners’ habits of mind. Through interactive activities and collaborative discussions, attendees will learn how to set tangible, achievable goals that align with their students' aspirations. By the end of this training, participants will be equipped with the tools and techniques necessary to create a goal-oriented culture that significantly impacts student outcomes.