For the past five years, Dr. Ramon Miramontes has served with distinction as superintendent of the Buena Park School District. Now he’s set to take on a new role as deputy superintendent for the Orange County Department of Education.
Beginning March 6, Miramontes will bring more than 30 years of educational experience to a newly created position overseeing the work of OCDE’s Educational Services division and coordinating support for Orange County’s 28 independent school districts. He will also provide strategic direction and academic accountability for all county-run schools and instructional programs.
“Along with a wealth of experience leading successful educational initiatives, Dr. Miramontes possesses the vision, leadership skills, integrity and heart to help accelerate our efforts to enrich the learning experiences of Orange County students,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares. “We are extremely excited to have an educator of his caliber join our leadership team and know he will make significant contributions to our organization.”
Miramontes, who has worked as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, human resources director and district administrator, said he was thrilled to join the department and to “work alongside an exceptional team of educators dedicated to providing high-quality education to all students.”
“I feel incredibly fortunate to have had opportunities to serve in various roles in support of California’s educational system,” he said, “and I look forward to utilizing these experiences as we collaborate with educational leaders at all levels to ensure that every Orange County student has the resources and support they need to thrive.”
In addition to providing direct instruction and support to students through its own Alternative Education and Special Education programs, OCDE oversees programs and services that are critical to the operations of local school districts and community colleges. These include professional development, high-speed internet access and security, legal and fiscal guidance, Local Control and Accountability Plan assistance and approval, payroll services, and student enrichment.
A career in education
Miramontes began his educational career in 1991 as a teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. Five years later, he was named a teacher on special assignment at Benton Middle School, and he became Benton’s assistant principal in 1997.
In 1999, he returned to Cesar Chavez Elementary as its principal, a position he held for the next six years. From 2005 through 2011, he served as principal of Beechwood School, a K-8 campus in the Fullerton School District, and in 2011 he was hired as a director of human resources at the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
Miramontes joined the Buena Park School District in 2014 as assistant superintendent of educational services, directly overseeing curriculum, instruction and student achievement for six elementary schools and one junior high school. In 2018, he was appointed by the Board of Education to serve as superintendent of the 4,100-student district.
Refining instruction
During his time in Buena Park, Miramontes refined the district’s instructional practices, introducing innovative strategies and approaches that leveraged the variations in how students learn. He also expanded the STEAM fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math, adding new opportunities for students to participate in programs such as sailing, aviation and robotics. He’s further credited with building community partnerships and expanding early education. Since his arrival, the number of preschoolers attending Buena Park schools has nearly tripled.
As the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic set in, Miramontes and his team earned praise for quickly establishing a foundation of services and supports that proved to be vital. Along with extending online sessions to support students, he implemented an awards program that inspired young learners to embrace perseverance, and he established a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park that allowed students to use the club’s facilities and internet connectivity.
In 2021, his efforts were recognized by the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, which named him as a Superintendent of the Year.
Education and family
Miramontes earned his doctorate in K-12 educational leadership from the University of Southern California in 2015. He also holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Azusa Pacific University, an administrative credential from Whittier College and a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Vanguard University.
Miramontes met his wife Debbie 35 years ago when both were undergraduate students at Vanguard. The two have been married for 32 years and now have three grown children. Nathan attends the University of Tulsa College of Law, Emily is a public school teacher in Orange County and Zach attends Vanguard University, where he is playing collegiate soccer — following in the footsteps of his father and his siblings — and majoring in English.
During his free time, Miramontes enjoys spending time with his family, walking his goldendoodle, Charlie, and attending Eastside Christian Church. He also likes western books and movies, gardening and yoga.