Robin “Rob” Ramirez worked for the Alachua County School Board at the A. Quinn Jones Center in Gainesville, Florida, for 38 years. The center is a Title I, alternative education school, which serves students with severe emotional disabilities. During his first 15 years at the center, Ramirez implemented the inaugural K-12 physical education program with an adaptive PE endorsement. The past 23 years of his tenure has been spent as the dean of students. His emphasis has been on reducing suspensions and referrals, increasing academic achievement and attendance, and implementing a restorative justice program.

Ramirez has a passion for teaching people of all ages to swim. For the last 44 years, he has been a swim instructor with Gainesville YMCA, High Tide Aquatics, Makos Swim Team and Swim America — and the past 33 years as the boys and girls swimming and diving coach at Gainesville High School (GHS).

[Profile added in 2020]

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