Manuel Pérez (teacher)
Encyclopedia
Manuel A. Pérez was a Puerto Rican
teacher
and public servant that made several contributions to various fields of the Public Administration during his career.
, Puerto Rico
to Celestino Pérez and Josefa Pérez. He studied at his hometown and at the Industrial School at Puerta de Tierra.
From 1907 to 1909, he started working as an office employee at the Puerto Rico Leaf Tobacco Company, at Caguas
.
He married Carlota Santiago Carmona with whom he had three children: Carlos Manuel, Irma, and Enrique.
In 1910, when he was 20 years old, he obtained his elementary school
teacher certificate, and worked as such until 1912. He then went to continue studies in Public Health
at the University of Puerto Rico
.
From 1912 to 1924, he also dedicated time to agriculture
, especially tobacco
. One of his contributions was the organization and foundation of an Association for Agriculture Workers.
Thanks to a scholarship
he received in 1929 from Johns Hopkins University
, Pérez went to study to the University of Maryland
.
In 1934, he was forced to interrupt his career in public service due to the death of his son. He returned to the United States
where he lived for a year, before returning to work at Puerto Rico.
On May 7, 1951, Pérez died of a heart attack at the Presbiterian Hospital at Santurce, Puerto Rico.
governor of Puerto Rico
; once during the administration of Rexford Guy Tugwell, and twice during the administration of Jesús T. Piñero
.
During one of his interim tenures, he approved the law that created the music schools of Puerto Rico
.
in Medicine
from the University of Maryland
.
that bears the name of Manuel A. Pérez.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and public servant that made several contributions to various fields of the Public Administration during his career.
Biography
Manuel A. Pérez was born in the town of ComeríoComerío, Puerto Rico
Comerío is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 wards and Comerío Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to Celestino Pérez and Josefa Pérez. He studied at his hometown and at the Industrial School at Puerta de Tierra.
From 1907 to 1909, he started working as an office employee at the Puerto Rico Leaf Tobacco Company, at Caguas
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
.
He married Carlota Santiago Carmona with whom he had three children: Carlos Manuel, Irma, and Enrique.
In 1910, when he was 20 years old, he obtained his elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
teacher certificate, and worked as such until 1912. He then went to continue studies in Public Health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
.
From 1912 to 1924, he also dedicated time to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, especially tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
. One of his contributions was the organization and foundation of an Association for Agriculture Workers.
Thanks to a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
he received in 1929 from Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, Pérez went to study to the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
In 1934, he was forced to interrupt his career in public service due to the death of his son. He returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where he lived for a year, before returning to work at Puerto Rico.
On May 7, 1951, Pérez died of a heart attack at the Presbiterian Hospital at Santurce, Puerto Rico.
Political career
Manuel Pérez served three times as an interimInterim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
governor of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
; once during the administration of Rexford Guy Tugwell, and twice during the administration of Jesús T. Piñero
Jesus T. Piñero
Jesús Toribio Piñero Jiménez was the first native Puerto Rican to be appointed governor of Puerto Rico by the Government of the United States.-Early years:...
.
During one of his interim tenures, he approved the law that created the music schools of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Family
His oldest son, Carlos Manuel, died when he was studying at college. His daughter, Irma, married Dr. Dwight Santiago Stevenson. His youngest son, Enrique, received a doctorateDoctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
.
Legacy
There is a housing project in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
that bears the name of Manuel A. Pérez.