Meet Laura Veloz of John Muir Charter School in San Pedro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Veloz.

Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was growing up, I always knew there was a bigger world out there that I wanted to see, but I didn’t know how. My neighborhood was stale, scattered with street gangs and traditional families. My friends were complacent and accepting of our “at-risk” label. I knew I wanted more than what I saw others accepting. I figured that education was my ticket out of my situation and it was. Out of college, I started tutoring teenagers in foster homes. It was my first time working with young people. It was challenging, it was fun, and it ignited my passion for youth.

I began teaching with John Muir Charter School a little over 10 years ago. I started in Orange County, teaching math and science until a John Muir school was opened up in LA County’s Men’s Central Jail. There I worked with the inmates in chemistry and algebra as well as life skills to prepare them for their release. A few years later, I became a lead teacher in Inglewood where I was partnered with a gang prevention program. Most recently, I teamed up to open the latest John Muir school in San Pedro. Our program, WINTER, is geared toward providing job readiness training in the field of construction. Here, I continue to supply these young adults with a little love and academics in hopes that they find their passion.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Besides the expected challenges of working with young people, like attitude and cell phones, the biggest challenge I face is watching a student fail. It’s sometimes inevitable and even though failure is a necessary part of growth, it isn’t easy for them to see that when they are going through it. It might be a relapse in drug use, a reconnection with a gang, or just a moment of unguarded judgment. I want to shake some sense into them, but the only thing I can do is hope that they dust themselves off and be there when they are ready to try again.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about John Muir Charter School – what should we know?
My students are vibrant young adults, ages 16-25, who are courageously overcoming their adversities through education. They are school dropouts, homeless or runaway youth, young parents, offenders, foster/emancipated youth, or at risk of gang involvement whom all have recommitted themselves to school. They take the first step through the door and I just encourage them to do it again tomorrow.

What sets us apart from others is our staff’s passion for our youth. We are life coaches first and academic teachers second. Being successful in the world means more than having a high school diploma. Being successful comes with having character and we make sure that our students learn those skills.

In the end, our students leave us with not only a high school diploma, but they leave with experience and a clear pathway into college or a career. We hope that they feel empowered and ready to compete for their spot in the world.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Throughout the years, there have been so many supporters of my students and me. I was lucky to have two great mentors in my first years of teaching. Aja Couso and Ernie Estrada supported me as a rookie and still encourage and support me to this day. I’m so thankful to have met these two educators who were like-minded and believed in the work we did.

The John Muir family is a huge family. We are spread out amongst several sites across California, yet we are extremely close, drawn together by our commitment to our youth. RJ Guess, our CEO, played a big role in creating this John Muir family by forming a team of enthusiastic and creative educators committed to our mission. We feed off each other’s ideas and are motivated by one another, and for that, I am thankful.

There is also the community who never fails to support our youth. Friends and strangers have donated books and yoga mats and offered their time to play basketball or paint.

It truly does take a village.

Contact Info:

• Address: 131 N Grand Ave
  San Pedro, CA 90731
• Website: www.JohnMuirCS.com
• Phone: (800) 396-9008
• Email: [email protected]

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