Monday, October 10, 9:00-10:00 am
Veramendi Salons E & F

Mr. Israel Velasquez is a proud English learner from Venezuela.  He successfully graduated Summa Cum Laude, from Texas A&M University-Commerce with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a concentration in Bilingual Education.  Mr. Velasquez's dedication to teaching is demonstrated both inside and outside the classroom.  He serves as a bilingual teacher in a self-contained classroom, and he works with newcomer students districtwide to assist and support students transitioning into bilingual classrooms. Additionally, his dedication to the teaching profession is demonstrated by his work as a liaison for the newcomer academy and as a mentor for adults teaching ESL classes.  Currently, Mr. Velasquez serves as a LOTE teacher in McKinney ISD and ESL instructor at Grayson College. 

Mr. Velasquez, has been recognized for his powerful, inspirational, and motivational presentation: “BelieVe-How far are you willing to go?” He has taken BelieVe to some of the most prestigious conferences nationally and internationally, where he strived to impact and empower teachers, administrators, and students.   He shares a more intimate experience as an immigrant/international student detailing all the hurdles/sacrifices he experienced through his educational journey. He highlights and showcases the importance of believing in your dreams, beating the odds, shifting the statistics, eliminating the labels, and disrupting the status quo. Mr. Velasquez inspires his audience to dream, to conquer, and to BelieVe.