In honor of Alisal’s 60th Anniversary, this is the seventh in an ongoing series of staff/alumni profiles.

Working as both a teacher and also a Marine can seem pretty challenging to many people. For physical education teacher Jose Ramos, it means working at a school he enjoyed as a student, Alisal. 

Ramos was born in Salinas and grew up on the Eastside. During his time in high school, he always wanted to be a coach and PE teacher. “I always wanted to be a PE teacher; my competitiveness, joining the Marine Corps, made me feel like I could do this job,” Ramos said. 

His teachers played a big role in inspiring which career path to follow, especially his favorite teacher, Mr. Mazzuca. “My favorite teacher was Mr. Mazzuca, PE teacher; a no nonsense guy who looked out for me, my mentor/inspiration,” Ramos said. 

As a student at Alisal, Ramos involved himself in many activities throughout his four years. “I was a three sport athlete,” Ramos said. “I played football, wrestling, and boys’ volleyball for four years. I was also the Commissioner of Rooters, ASB Officer who runs the rallies, for three years.” 

After graduating in 2004, Ramos enlisted into the U.S. military because he wanted to serve the country and he joined the Marines to be the best. He went to bootcamp and soon after got deployed into Al-Asad Iraq in ‘07, Al-Fallujah Iraq in ‘08, returned to North Carolina in ‘09, in ‘10 he joined the Marines Corp Reserves, he was then activated in ‘11 and later deployed into Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan in ‘12 and ‘13. 

After being deployed for four years in the Middle East, he grew tired of active duty and came back. He had the opportunity for free education from being in the Marine Corps. He took night classes at Phoenix University in the San Jose campus and graduated in 2014 with a Bachelor’s in psychology and a Masters in education in 2017. 

Although he was able to work at any school in Salinas, Ramos chose Alisal. “This is my home, where my family lives, and it’s the culture I identify with,” he said. 

Teaching at a school where he was once a student has been different because of its community and character. “It’s still full of pride and people who care about it,” Ramos said. “The size of the school has changed and its reputation, positively.” 

He is currently working alongside most of his teachers that have been here since he was a student. “I liked the fact that they remembered me and once my tenure increased, they saw me as a peer,” he said.

Besides being a PE teacher at Alisal, he coached many sports: 9 years of girls’ volleyball, 5 years of boys’ volleyball and football, 1 year of boys tennis, and was even the Assistant Athletic Director for two years. “I love playing sports and motivating our youth,” Ramos said. 

His students like him as their teacher just as much as he enjoys being back. “Great teacher, hard worker, always motivating us,” sophomore Hector Alfaro Lustre said. “He’s productive, makes us do our best to be in good shape,” sophomore Genesis Muros-Rodriguez said. 

When he’s not teaching or fulfilling his service time, Ramos enjoys spending time with his family. “I like going camping, hiking, and going to the lake with my kids,” Ramos said. With four young children, he plans on sending them to Alisal once they are old enough.  

When it comes to Alisal, it’s a school Ramos enjoyed as a high schooler and feels like he is able to relate in many ways to the students attending. “The students are great,” Ramos said. “They grew up the same way I did: on the Eastside of Salinas with similar culture. I feel like I can see myself in a lot of these kids.” Once his departure time is near, Ramos wants to be remembered as the teacher who cares about his students health, fitness, and willingness to teach them discipline for a healthy life.