Velazquez First Candidate to Qualify for PUSD District 7 Election

PUSD mother and university professor Dr. Yarma Velazquez is the first candidate to qualify as a candidate to become Board of Education Member representing District 7.

“I am running for the Pasadena Unified School Board because I believe in public education and needs proactive leadership that is responsive to our community and fights for education equity, teachers, and staff.  Both of my children have been in PUSD since pre-school,” Velazquez said. “We love our school and that is why I want to make sure all kids in Pasadena have access to the best public education.”

The signatures were certified on Friday, July 22. The election will take place on November 8, 2022.

Velazquez has been an active participant within and outside PUSD. She is a room parent and led the creation of the edible garden for the Parent Teachers Association at San Rafael Elementary.

Over the last five years, Dr. Velazquez has also volunteered on multiple occasions at Ellen Ochoa Learning Center in LAUSD and was instrumental in providing digital texts for Ochoa students through the donation of digital book subscriptions and so that dual language students had access to grade level books in English and Spanish.

“Dr. Velazquez is an individual who advocates for biliteracy and higher education for our youth,” said Esperanza Basulto, Primary Promise Teacher at Ellen Ochoa Learning Center. “Dr. Velazquez is a bilingual educator we can always count on for support.”

Velazquez is a third generation educator and tenured professor at California State University Northridge where she teaches predominantly first-year and first-generation college students.

As a professor,  she has served on committees that work with academic budgets, student success, and equity in education- all areas that align with the duties of the board. She has served on the Academic Resources Committee, the body that makes recommendations about the academic budget, a skill she will use when evaluating PUSD annual budgets.  The duties of the board also include approving textbooks, courses of study, and approving new and innovative academic initiatives.

Dr. Velazquez has over 14 years of experience developing equitable educational practices and assessment.

For more information about Dr. Velazquez and her campaign, please visit  www.yarmavelazquez.com