Ramona Angulo Espinosa
Norwalk-La Mirada Adult School
Nominated in 2025
Born the ninth of ten children, Ramona (Mona) grew up in a home filled with chaos and neglect. Her mother, illiterate and trapped in an abusive marriage, couldn’t protect her from the violence and emotional void that shaped her childhood. After her biological father died when she was five, Mona was left vulnerable, with no one to affirm her worth or guide her.
Despite her home life, Mona showed promise in school—excelling in gymnastics, track, and folklórico dance. But these achievements went unnoticed at home and were overshadowed by bullying at school. An eye injury led to the cruel nickname “Dead Eye,” and even her coach called her “Ugly Duckling.” The lack of support both at home and school caused her to fall behind academically.
Longing for connection, Mona found a sense of belonging in a gang—a decision that led her into a world of crime, violence, and addiction. Expelled from two high schools and kicked out by her mother, she eventually landed in an all-girls school, where, for the first time, teachers saw her potential. But by then, the streets had too strong a hold. By 16, she was pregnant and deeply entangled in the same cycle she had witnessed growing up.
Eventually, near-death experiences prompted her to beg the gang to release her. Mona returned home, trying to juggle work, school, and motherhood. Though she continued using and dealing drugs with her future husband, she found the courage to leave him when the relationship turned abusive. When he later returned, claiming to have found faith, Mona was skeptical—but ultimately, his transformation inspired her own spiritual journey. She now credits all the positives in her life to her faith.
In 2006, Mona and her sister were invited by the Department of Children, Schools, and Families to speak about how the system had failed them. Turning pain into purpose, Mona began working as a Parent Partner with the Department of Health Services, helping families navigate the system and reunite with their children. Two years ago, Mona's workplace began requiring a high school diploma, something Mona had never returned to earn. It was then that she entered the Norwalk Adult School. Upon entering her first math class with Mrs. Gross, she proclaimed, "I don't know anything about this math stuff!" To which Mrs. Gross replied, "You don’t know about it YET, but you will." Not only did Mona perform well in a year's worth of math classes, but she has also taken several ELA classes with Mrs. Givertzman, where she says she has gained writing skills and the confidence for public speaking. With the confidence she has gained in these classes and the encouragement of Mr. Givertzman, in his Government class, Mona has gone on to lead Bible studies at her church and, more recently, speak at a Long Beach City Council meeting regarding homelessness, recovery, and family issues.
Mona's compassion extends to her classmates and teachers. She regularly checks on others, offers resources, and uplifts her school community. Shortly after starting at the adult school, she earned the opportunity for a new position with her work. She passed a competency test with a 93% and was promoted to a new role that no longer required a diploma—but she chose to stay, determined to finish for herself. “This is for me,” she says.
Now a mother of five and a proud grandmother, Mona has remained with the Department of Health Services. After graduation this June, she hopes to open a nonprofit for recovering addicts, the homeless, and mothers of children with mental health challenges.
Mona is more than her past, more than her mistakes, and more than what the world once told her she was. She is a student, a leader, a nurturer, and a source of strength to her community. For these reasons, Ramona Angulo Espinosa should be highly considered for the OTAN Student Succeed Award.
