Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Photo by Meghan see

VWC professor runs for school board

Leah Hammond

lmhammond@vwc.edu

The Virginia Beach City School Board is an 11-member group directly elected by the citizens of Virginia Beach to determine matters of educational importance.

This year, Dr. Mavel Velasco, a professor of Latin American Literature at the college, will be running to be one of those 11 school board members.

The Virginia Beach City School Board is composed of one member from each of the seven residence districts with four additional at-large members. The members on the board serve four-year overlapping terms.

Velasco is running for one of two open seats as an at-large member. An at-large member represents the whole membership body, not just a subset or district. Currently there are five candidates running for the two at-large positions, including incumbent At-Large Vice Chairman Rita Sweet Bellitto. Bellitto was elected to the school board in 2004.

Velasco decided to run last year when a group of fellow community members proposed the idea.

 I am extremely active and outspoken in the community, said Velasco.  I had never thought of running before, but after a few community members approached me, I thought it was a good idea.

Velasco s involvement in the community is extensive. She has been the chair of the Hispanic Leadership Forum of Hampton Roads, has volunteered to work with Hispanic high school students during the Hispanic Youth Symposium at the University of Richmond and has created events where the members of the Hispanic community were able to meet with their political leaders.

Senior-and current student of Velasco-Ashley Ladyman, thinks that Velasco s campaign for school board will be very beneficial to the community.

 I am in full support, said Ladyman.  I do not think there is enough of a voice for the Hispanic community in Virginia Beach. I think Dr. Velasco will provide a voice for them.

Although Velasco has much involvement in the Hispanic community, her campaign focuses on improving learning conditions for all students and bringing a different perspective.

 I want equal education opportunities for everyone, said Velasco.

She hopes to improve the student-to-teacher ratio, increase the technology available to students and create a system where parents are more involved in their children s education. She also supports art, technology and foreign language programs.

Although she admits it might be controversial, one program that Velasco would like to establish is a reward system for teachers who perform well and administrators who are effective instructional leaders. Velasco also believes that student input and feedback is necessary. She would like to see the implementation of student evaluations.

 I think student evaluations are so important, said Velasco.  How else are we as educators to know what works well for the students and what doesn t unless we have them?

Velasco has had some experience with Virginia Beach City Public Schools. She provided training for Virginia Beach teachers for certification and college courses for the past five years. Her husband and campaign manager, Wellinthon Munoz, is an adjunct professor at Wesleyan and full-time Spanish teacher at Salem High School. With these experiences, Velasco says she understands the difficulties and opportunities that public school teachers have.

Velasco has had over 20 years of experience in education not only from teaching but learning herself. She has her bachelor s, master s and doctorate all from Rutgers University. This is one of the reasons why Associate Dean of Students and resident of Virginia Beach Lina Green believes Velasco is an ideal candidate.

 Dr. Velasco has loads of education experience, said Green.  I think she can take to the public school system a college mentality. She knows what it takes to prepare students for college and it starts with the proper education in elementary, middle and high school.

Green explains that Velasco is a parent with children who have been in the public school system and a longtime citizen of Virginia Beach.

 Dr. Velasco has been here to see what has worked, said Green.  She has also been here to see what hasn t worked and what the challenges are.

Since being a member on the school board is volunteer-based, members have full-time jobs and continue to be active in their community. If elected, Velasco will keep working as a professor at Wesleyan; though this campaign has been time-consuming, it has not interfered with Velasco s position at Wesleyan.

Velasco says she always speaks her mind and isn t political, two attributes that she thinks could be challenging to her campaign; however, her different perspective on the education system, she believes, is her biggest strength.

 I believe that my experience at VWC has prepared me very well for this school board position, said Velasco.  It is because of my knowledge and the different perspectives that I have I can improve the school system. That is why I believe I am a strong candidate.