Will Velez, a 7th grade English Language Arts teacher at The Villages Charter Middle School, has been named a Florida Credit Union/Ocala Star-Banner Amazing Teacher of the Month.
Velez, 52, was awarded two Purple Heart medals during his service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and he continues to serve his community as a teacher with a mission to help, challenge and inspire students.
A part of that mission is assisting students in reading at grade level and above. He challenges his students and has a selected “Book of the Quarter” for his students to read and analyze.
Velez wants students to follow steps including giving “examples and evidence” and “explain how your evidence supports your answer” as part of their analytical methods in reading assignments.
Velez used an example of a student who “didn’t like poetry” whom he mentored to channel her energy into her writing. She eventually became excited about her work and had a poem published in a church newsletter.
Velez’s wife, Jennifer, said her husband for years had a dream of becoming a teacher.
“As a soldier for the U.S. Army Special Forces, (my husband) dreamed of one day becoming a teacher, making an impact in students' lives, much like he saw in the movie 'Dead Poet's Society' and experienced himself through wonderful teachers of his own at Lehman HS in the Bronx, NY,” Jennifer Velez wrote in a nominating email.
Will Velez confirmed that his passion to teach was inspired by the movie “Dead Poets Society.”
According to a summary posted on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com), the 1989 movie starring Robin Williams centers around an English teacher who uses poetry “poetry to embolden his pupils to new heights of self-expression.”
Jennifer Velez added comments during a phone interview.
“What he loves is seeing the students respond,” Jennifer Velez said. She said students are even excited to see her husband outside of the classroom around The Villages.
“Hello, Mr. Velez!” they’ll exclaim, she said.
Respect for students and knowledge about their backgrounds – similar to leadership qualities he learned in the military – are pillars of his teaching style.
Velez briefs himself on the information available at the school on each individual student before he meets them and addresses students respectfully by their last names.
He also makes sure to speak with each student to show them “someone cares” if he has a detention class assignment.
Velez was born in the Bronx, New York, to parents who moved to the city from Puerto Rico. As a youth he was fascinated by the language and characters in Marvel comic books and he brings the excitement of that experience to the classroom.
Following high school, Velez faced career choices that included court bailiff but instead he joined the U.S. Army in 1991.
Velez served in Operation Desert Storm and he was awarded two Purple Heart medals for injuries suffered in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom including a Traumatic Brain Injury.
Velez served on a Patriot Missile crew and as a member of Special Forces. He was presented an American flag that was flown over Camp Viper in Balad, Iraq, 2003-2004 by his unit.
He left the military in 2004 while dealing with his injuries and by 2005 began working several jobs including in a Texas oil field.
By 2022, Will and Jennifer Velez would move to The Villages to care for a family member already living there. Will Velez earned his bachelor’s degree in English Language Arts and soon was hired by The Villages Charter Middle School.
Velez recognizes students who are English Language Arts “heroes” and posts their names on a sign placed in a hallway in the school.
The Amazing Teacher program, sponsored by Florida Credit Union in partnership with the Ocala Star-Banner, is a celebration of educators whose compassion, creativity and dedication inspire us all. Local teachers are selected monthly. They are recognized locally and are eligible for national level recognition and prizes. These stories are produced by the newsroom. Do you know an amazing teacher? Nominating one is easy. Just visit ocala.gannettcontests.com/Florida-Credit-Union-Amazing-Teachers
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Star-Banner/Florida Credit Union Amazing Teacher of the Month is Will Velez
