CLEVELAND, Texas—The ILTexas community came together to celebrate the grand opening of ILTexas Brigadier General “B.G.” Ramirez K-8 on Tuesday, July 26. Students, teachers, and staff gathered in the gymnasium for the event, to listen to guest speakers and take some time to get familiar with the building. Plans to build the school were announced in June 2021, with ILTexas celebrating the groundbreaking event the following September. Less than a year later, the K-8 is finally ready to welcome its incoming students. 

The school’s namesake, Brigadier General Joe Ramirez, was in attendance and stated how honored he was to be part of the school’s emergence.

“It is truly an honor for me to be here among you today to celebrate the opening of the school,” he told the audience during his speech. “It’s important that we have school’s like this that will imbue our children with the skills necessary to go out and represent our nation at a time where we need that leadership and those vital skills.”

Ana Hernandez, a parent of an incoming ILTexas B.G. Ramirez student, expressed her excitement for the new school.

“I chose ILTexas for my kid because it's a great opportunity [for them] to be enrolled in a leadership, role-model school,” she said. 

Coral Martínez-Cotto, who serves as the school’s principal, welcomed the guests and emphasized the importance of building a community.

“We are truly an international community and we want to provide students with the very best,” she said, reiterating the ILTexas mission of servant leadership and trilingual education. 

ILTexas Chief of Staff Marcus Young presented Principal Martínez with a framed proclamation from Texas Governor Greg Abbott who acknowledged the opening of the school. 

Guests then gathered outside the building for the official ribbon cutting ceremony where ILTexas Founder and CEO Eddie Conger, Principal Martínez, and fellow ILTexas B.G. Ramirez staff helped cut the ribbon, marking the 21st addition to the ILTexas school roster in the state of Texas.

The official start to the 2022-23 school year for ILTexas students begins on August 11.

Visit ILTexas.org for the latest updates on campus news and events.