FEATURED SPEAKER: Mr. Oscar Velez

Senior Lead Independent Consultant

Mr. Velez is a first generation bilingual son of Honduran immigrants. Mr. Velez was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ.  At an early age Mr. Velez received an academic scholarship to attend a private college preparatory boarding high school in Long Island NY.  During his high school years, Mr. Velez experienced the fullness of an education that prepared him academically to attend a 4-year university.  Mr. Velez was also aware of the inadequacies many of his friends and family experienced in a public educational setting.  Mr. Velez attributes this experience as the genesis of his professional journey. Since his time at a prestigious boarding high school Mr. Velez developed a passion to minimize the inadequacies for students who were not afforded the same opportunity he was.  Mr. Velez also experienced the power of education in order to break the cycle of poverty in his own life and increase the choices and opportunities he has enjoyed in his career and personal life.

Mr. Velez is the proud husband of Lisa Velez and father of Caleb Velez and Grace Velez.  Mr. Velez has been an educator for over 20 years.  Mr. Velez completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University.  He also attained a dual Masters Degrees from NJCU in Educational Leadership and Curriculum and Instruction.  Prior to being a member of Deal With It Management, Mr. Velez worked with the Jersey City Public Schools in NJ and Duval County Public Schools in Florida.  Mr. Velez served in various professional capacities including Middle School Teacher, Special Education Literacy Coach, Supervisor of Schools, Vice Principal, School Principal and Executive Director of Middle Schools. 

As a teacher, Mr. Velez received several distinctions.  He was nominated as teacher of the year twice for his school. Mr. Velez was also the recipient of the Elijah Hendon Award from the City of Jersey City.  This award is given in recognition of educators who work for the advancement of racial justice and equity in the classroom.  Mr. Velez also received a citation and recognition from the State Assembly of NJ as the principal of PS 22 in Jersey City, for his work in reforming and improving the school and the greater school community.  Mr. Velez also received a citation and recognition from the City of Jersey City for the academic and community improvement of the school where he served as principal.

As a School Principal, Mr. Velez designed and implemented many initiatives which gained local and statewide attention.  Mr. Velez initiated a summer reading campaign during his tenure as a School Principal.  Each summer the entire school organized book drives throughout the city in order to place the books in the community for children to have access to. Mr. Velez fundraised in order to obtain 10 little libraries.  He worked with the Department of Public Works and the Mayor’s Office of Jersey City in order to install the little library houses throughout the Bergen Lafayette neighborhood.  These libraries were stocked and full of books so that children could pick up a book and read at any time during that summer.  Over 8000 books were distributed for students to read during the summer months. Mr. Velez also initiated a reading mentorship program named “Bridging the Gap”.  He collaborated with NJ State Assembly Woman Angela McKnight and the community organization RSVP in order to recruit volunteer readers.  These volunteer readers came minimally every two weeks and read to the same class in order to establish a long term literacy mentorship program.  This reading program allowed students to develop relationships with the volunteer readers and there was been a measurable increase in the academic performance of these students.  Mr. Velez designed and implemented enrichment programs for inner city students.    Students participated in project based learning activities, as well as, learning experiences beyond their school.  These opportunities enhanced their experiential knowledge base.  Students went to places like the Cloister’s Museum in NYC, Museum of Natural History in NYC, the Newark Museum in NJ, the Liberty Hall Museum at Kean University, the Camden Aquarium and the New York Metropolitan Museum.  

Mr. Velez participated in the National Principal Leadership Institute in NYC for several years.  He served in the capacity as a principal coach and mentor coach for this institute.  Mr. Velez has also designed and facilitated professional development for teachers and principals for the National Principals Leadership Institute as well as the districts he worked in.  Mr. Velez also served on accreditation teams for school districts for Advanced Ed.

Mr. Velez also facilitated professional learning opportunities for teachers, principals and supervisors of schools in the districts he worked in.  Mr. Velez is able to provide professional development, professional coaching and mentoring and motivational lectures on many topics including:

Instructional Leadership for school wide reform and improvement

Development and implementation of district and/or school based improvement plans.

Curricular development and implementation for a district, school, grade level and individual classrooms.

Alignment of lesson planning, classroom instruction, student learning activities and assessments to statewide learning standards.

Pedagogical improvement for classroom teachers.

Facilitation and implementation of Professional Learning Communities for schools.

Effective instructional evaluation and supervision of teacher’s professional performance.

Strategies and methods to assist teachers in improving their professional practice.

The facilitation and completion of the District and School accreditation process.

Increasing and maximizing the participation of parents and community stakeholders for schools and school districts.

Mr. Velez believes that professional learning and growth are essential in maintaining the highest professional standards and performance for the Classroom Teacher, School Administrator, and District Leader.