By Celeste Ramos Connie Ramirez, known simply as Penny by friends and family, and Mom by me, was an exceptional person.  She was not only an inspiration to me and my family, but to thousands of other people as well.  My mother was a special education teacher at Shelby Elementary School in our hometown of Merced, California for 29 years.  She also volunteered and served as president of the board...