Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba and reared in Puerto Rico (where he learned English), Mr. Ruiz attended Robert E. Lee High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and his first couple of years of college at Louisiana State University. He graduated from THE University of Texas at Austin with a Communications degree in Radio-TV-Film.
Finding work in television a bit dry, he went back to school and received his teaching certificate. He was quickly hired and worked for 30 years in Austin Independent School District: at Kealing Magnet School for three years and James Bowie High School for twenty seven years. Mr. Ruiz, who also has a passion from youth and youth ministry, volunteered at St. Paul's Catholic Church with the youth choir and the youth program working in retreats, special events such as DCYC and Notre Dame Vision, and many Sundays' youth programs. Besides being a native Spanish speaker, Mr. Ruiz studied and lived in Madrid, Spain and has family in Spain. He takes opportunities to travel and, besides places in the US and Puerto Rico, has traveled to Oxford, London, Ireland, Madrid, Barcelona and several other cities in Spain. Mr. Ruiz received a scholarship from the Spanish Embassy, as a descendant of Spanish citizens, for graduate studies in Spain and a Target Scholarship for continued studies. He has been part of the Smithsonian Faculty and received a National Endowment for the Arts Grant to research and study Zarzuelas in Spain. |
Always the Trekker, while working at Kealing Middle School, Mr. Ruiz worked and learned how to program the then popular Apple IIe. He also worked out how to use computers and technology in the classroom, specially in his Spanish classes. By using technology (computers, presentations tools, and even iTunes) in school he rose to becoming a trainer and presenter for Austin Independent School District and becoming a Tech Trainer and Teacher for James Bowie High School.
After retiring from AISD on his 30th year, Mr. Ruiz took a year off to help his family, learn a few more skills and serve his church. Ms. DeNegri, who knows quality when she sees it, hired Mr. Ruiz in 2017 when given the opportunity. Mr. Ruiz is a member of St. Mark The Evangelist Church in Norman and works with the Blessed Stanley Rother Hispanic Cultural Institute in St. Joseph's, also in Norman as the technology consultant and presenter. Mr. Ruiz is blessed to have an inspiring mother, a nephew, a niece in law, three nieces, two nephew in laws, and eleven grand-nephews and grand nieces. He is proud and happy to be part of Mount St Mary Catholic High School and is looking forward to many more amazing years in an amazing school. |