By Stephanie Espinoza

Everyone has heard his voice, speaking during announcements every morning, or from behind a megaphone, telling students to take off their hoodies, but how many students have actually met the new principal? As the academic leader of the school it is important for the students of PHS to get to know their principal a little better, and Mr. Velez wants students to know that they have an advocate in him, for their success.

First, Mr. Francisco Velez was born to Puerto Rican immigrants, and he was raised in Jersey City. He is a NJIT alumni. He loves math and has a degree in mechanical engineering.

So how does a mechanical engineer become the principal of a high school? He said, “I think not having a teaching background allows me to have a different perspective on how things should work to be effective. I see this school through a different lens.”

Before coming to Passaic High School, Mr. Velez was the vice principal of Abraham Lincoln High School in Jersey City. Upon seeing PHS through his different lens, Mr. Velez’s first impressions of the students and faculty were impressive. He said, “My first impression of the students was that they were hungry for rigor, hungry for challenges and hungry for something a lot deeper in terms of education. My first impression of the staff was that they were hard working and hungry for something different, something that will transform the school and take it to another level.”

While some may be quick to bash PHS, Mr. Velez hopes to be a positive voice for our school. He admits to not knowing how big a deal it was coming in as the new principal of the only high school in the city. He has been a little anxious under the pressure, but he thanks everyone, including the students, for being tremendously helpful and supportive. Mr. Velez wants to thank all the students and staff for making him feel welcome and for making the transition easier.

As the educational leader of the school, the principal’s philosophy of education is important to how the school will feel and function. Mr. Velez’s philosophy on education is simple. He stated, “All students have the right to a high quality education,” and he added, “The fundamentals of providing a quality education for our students is already here. Teachers and staff are working hard, so we can do this to get better and to forward ourselves.”

Mr. Velez stated that the mission of our school is to become the number one urban school in the state. PHS has the potential and the talent to do this and now it is time to apply both. In order to improve, we must make some changes, some being obvious and others not so apparent.

Mr. Velez would like to make some cosmetic changes that would make the building physically look better, so that students and parents get a better vibe when they walk in. Right now, he says, the vibe is very “blah.” He specifically points out the courtyard as an area that needs repairing and upgrades.

Furthermore, Mr. Velez would like students to have more choices and options when choosing classes for scheduling. Students need options to be able to make the best decisions for themselves. However, before these options can be given students need to prove that they can cooperate with what they already have.

As for becoming the best urban school in the state, Mr. Velez believes that we are already well on our way. While it may take a few years, changes being made by Mr. Munoz and administration will help. Citing other school districts like Elizabeth and Jersey City, where the ethnic makeup and economic situations are similar, he sees no reason for PHS to be even better. As for the megaphone, well, the new principal just wants everyone to hear how great PHS is, and how it will be even better.