Associate Professor Verónica Vélez, a longtime volunteer in Bellingham Public Schools, got a surprise recently at Squalicum High School, where she helped develop an ethnic studies course she co-teaches with Joe Wooding, ‘03, B.A and ‘07, MIT.
Superintendent Greg Baker, ’93, M.Ed., and Principal Miguel Perez, ‘01, BAE, stopped in and announced that Vélez received the district’s Community Partner of the Year award.
Vélez has been working with Bellingham Public Schools faculty for three years to develop the ethnic studies course and served as a volunteer teacher at Squalicum High School this year. In announcing the award, Bellingham Schools noted Vélez’s expertise and deep commitment to students.
Vélez is an associate professor of secondary education and education & social justice whose research specialties include the activism work of Latinx migrant mothers in public schools, popular education, and the use of cartographic tools for critical race inquiry.
