Hispanic Heritage Month: Las Vegas High School principal highlights educational contributions

Editor’s note: The introduction to this segment was omitted due to technical issues.

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A Hispanic figure in the Las Vegas valley highlights his contributions to the field of education, during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Raymond Ortiz, the principal of Las Vegas High School, continuously makes an effort to connect with both students and staff. His journey in education has come full circle having once attended Las Vegas High School himself, he now serves as its principal.

Ortiz said his dedication stems from his parents. Both are from the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico.

“You needed to excel… you just had to do the best you could,” Ortiz said.

For years, he has been sharing that same discipline with students.

“My heart and soul is really at-risk students’, you know kids who grew up on the east side like I did, who just need some people to believe in them,” Ortiz added.

Ortiz is now using his leadership role rooting for students and keeping the Latino culture alive.

“Our mariachi program, for instance, about ten years ago it was not cool to be in mariachi,” Ortiz remarked. “Mariachi and ballet folklorico are opportunities for students to express their heritage.”

Now, being in the mariachi program is considered to be one of the premier groups to be in.

Las Vegas High School’s performing arts groups are named after jewels. Mariachi Joya is the high school’s top-performing group.

Ortiz said that nearly 74 percent of the students at Las Vegas High School are Hispanic. Ortiz also agreed that there still is a significant disparity between Latino students and Latino teachers.

“I think it’s hard to find quality teachers of Hispanic descent, I think it’s hard to find teachers of any sort of background,” Ortiz remarked.

Ortiz said the goal would be to have the school population reflected in the staff. For now, he continues to make sure everyone feels accepted and represented.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.