Top notch music and education

Ten years ago, a man from the big city of Los Angeles got a phone call from then-Principal Mike Franza. Wenatchee High School was looking for a mariachi teacher. This man said, “Why not?” and embarked on an entirely new journey.

Taking the “big plane” from LAX to Seattle, things were looking up. Then, stepping onto the 30-passenger rattletrap of a plane and puddlejumping over the Cascade mountain range, his surroundings started looking just a little more strange. Thoughts raced through his head of “What am I doing here?” and “Where am I going?” after living in California all of his life. He’d never been to Wenatchee, and definitely didn’t think it would be his new home.

That was mariachi teacher Ramon Rivera in 2005 — and now, he’s the director of a nationally-recognized mariachi program, appearing on national television and performing at high-profile events across the state of Washington.

Besides the glitz and glam of Mariachi Huenachi, Rivera is doing a whole lot more than directing — he’s changing lives, and putting students on track to a successful future. When he took over, the graduation rate of Wenatchee mariachi students stood at 58 percent. In 2009, the rate hit 100 percent, and has stayed steady ever since.

“Nationally, Latino dropout is pretty high — it’s about 50 percent that graduate,” Rivera said. “One of the things I wanted to model for the students [is] that they need to graduate high school. High school is so important because a lot of our students live in poverty and they want to help their families.”

Without the support of the Wenatchee School District and WHS administration, Rivera doesn’t think the success would have been as easy to come by. He meets with Superintendent Brian Flones every year, and Flones always asks Rivera how the district can support the mariachi program to reach even greater success.

“I know if we give students positive outlets, like music, band, mariachi, they’re going to do better in school,” Rivera said. “They’re going to do better in their academics, and now, they’re going to universities and going to colleges.”

In 2007, Rivera was awarded with the Numerica School Champion Award, which goes to teachers who go above and beyond for students. Just this year — seven years later — Rivera was awarded with the 2014 Jefferson Award: the highest award for public service in the state because he “inspires kids to stay in school … inspires their dreams and thirst for education,” according to the nomination.

Even the students can point out what he’s doing to make an impact. Senior Yajayra Ramirez has been a part of the mariachi program since 5th grade. “It’s the self esteem that he gives us that helps us accomplish better goals for ourselves,” Ramirez said. She plans to attend Washington State University to major in International Relations, after learning from Rivera that she has just as much opportunity as anyone else.

“Millions of people know about our program,” Rivera said, noting the group’s performances and interviews on CBS Evening News and Despierta America. “I think that’s huge. I think it’s huge for Wenatchee that our little mariachi program is on the USA Today or on national news — CBS Evening News — that’s huge. I’m very blessed for everything we have because of the hard work of our students.”

The mariachi’s successes to date don’t stop Rivera from taking the program to new heights. He’s always setting more goals to teach kids that going to the next level is the right thing to do. “I’m a big idea person — I’m a big dreamer,” he said, mentioning his hope of someday performing for the President of the United States.

Rivera said the mariachi program at WHS is a safe place for students — a place where students feel respected — and he treats his classroom just as if it were his own home.

“I want our students to feel part of the Wenatchee community and the Wenatchee family and the Wenatchee High School,” Rivera said. “Everyone feels loved, everyone feels respected, and everyone’s welcomed [in the mariachi classroom].”

The mariachi classroom at WHS is also a very competitive place. “We strive to be the best,” Rivera said. “Our program is in big demand, and so one of the things I’m really proud of is that the students have that drive and have that energy, so they can be the best, and strive to be the best.”

Ramirez said Rivera encourages all classmates to step out of their comfort zones and try new things.

The audition process for Mariachi Huenachi, Rivera said, is like “American Idol” because it’s so competitive. “It keeps you going — it makes me want to work harder,” Rivera said.

Although the music is a large part of the greatness that comes out of the mariachi, the best part for Rivera is when he’s able to turn a student around and give them hope, because when they get that acceptance letter to a college or university, “it’s like winning the lottery,” he said.

“The image of a teenager is not good in the news — why aren’t they talking about kids that are going to college?” Rivera said. “I think if we could get that positive story out there of what kids are doing, because I see it every day — I don’t see these thug, gang banger kids that they’re talking about.”

Rivera’s goal is to help people and give them hope. If he wasn’t the mariachi teacher, he doesn’t exactly know what he’d be doing, but he knows for a fact that he’d be believing in people and spreading love, care, and respect all around to help make the world a better place. But for now, he’s focused on empowering his students to never give up.

“If you believe it, if you think it, it will come true … I believe that our students can be on USA Today, I believe that they can graduate,” Rivera said. “I think a lot of people don’t believe in themselves and I think we need to teach the kids to believe in themselves and then they will be successful … it’s hard work, dedication, and perseverance.”

Mariachi Huenachi will perform at the Seattle Sounders game Sept. 27. Watch on Q13 Fox television starting at 1 p.m.