Amadis Velez
World History & Expository Writing High School Teacher in San Francisco, CA
Amadis Velez was born and raised in Berkeley, California and lives in San Francisco’s Mission District. He earned his BA in Psychology and Spanish Literature from UC Berkeley and his JD from George Washington University along with an MA in International Studies. He obtained his teaching credential from San Francisco State University, where he also serves as a mentoring teacher for aspiring teaching candidates. Amadis began his career working as a voting rights attorney at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF). In 2007, Amadis found a new calling as a world history and expository writing teacher at Mission High School in San Francisco. He specializes in teaching newcomer students from all nationalities on how to navigate the complex and nuanced process of admission to an American university. In addition to teaching, Amadis proudly serves as the faculty sponsor of the Awaken Dreamers Club that seeks equal opportunity and access for students who encounter barriers because of their immigration status. In his summers, he also worked as the co-director of Aim High at Urban Promise Academy in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, California.
Why do you teach? I teach so my students can have equal access to higher education. I teach to help my students find their own voice. I teach because I am needed as an advocate, a mentor, and an instructor.
What do you love about teaching? I relish in the direct and absolute honesty of high school students. I love working with recently arrived immigrant youth who cling to the dream of making a better life for themselves and their families. I appreciate the subtle process of building trust and respect, and then encouraging my students to reach heights they never imagined. Most of all, I love sitting behind a student when they open an offer of admission from a university and thinking “si se puede”.
Was there a teacher who inspired you? I was fortunate to have been taught history by Mr. David DeHart at Albany High School. His classes were inspirational and controversial and he demanded that I reach a higher bar. When I graduated I knew it was only a matter of time before I would follow in his footsteps. As I continue to develop my teaching practice, I am fortunate to count on the support of Mr. Robert Roth, an experienced colleague in the Mission High history department. He has taught me to juggle a multitude of responsibilities while always remaining focused on the essential and fair rigor that we must demand of all our students.
