For Marybel Velasco, returning to serve the community where she grew up is especially meaningful as a proud Baldwin Park Unified alumna. She attended both elementary and middle school in BPUSD before graduating from Baldwin Park High School. It was during her own high school years that a teacher encouraged her to consider college, a pivotal moment that would shape her future.
As a first-generation college student, the encouragement to pursue higher education, especially at a four-year university, was both inspiring and deeply personal.
"I knew I wanted to make a difference for students the way others had done for me," Velasco said.
Her career with Baldwin Park Unified began as a school clerk at Walnut Elementary School while she worked toward earning her bachelor’s degree. During that time, Velasco balanced raising her two children, attending college, and navigating the grief of suddenly losing someone close to her. The challenges led her to temporarily put her educational goals on hold.
Velasco found strength through positive support systems that helped her heal. At the same time, a Walnut school psychologist who worked alongside her regularly checked in, offering encouragement. Inspired by both her healing journey and the collaborative support provided by her colleagues, Velasco discovered a new calling. She shifted her career path from teaching to school psychology, determined to provide the same care, guidance and encouragement that had made such a meaningful difference in her own life.
That decision led to years of serving students at both the middle and high school levels, most recently as a school psychologist at Baldwin Park High School. Throughout her career, Velasco has remained focused on helping students overcome challenges and ensuring students have the support they need to succeed.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Velasco recognized that the needs of students and families were evolving. Motivated to make an even broader impact, she earned her administrative credential and set her sights on school leadership.
Velasco said. "I wanted to be in a position where I could help create positive change across an entire campus," Velasco said.
Velasco earned her bachelor's degree in education from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), her master's degree in psychology from Azusa Pacific University, and her administrative credential from Cal Poly Pomona.
As assistant principal at Sierra Vista Middle School, Velasco looks forward to building strong relationships with students, staff and families while supporting initiatives focused on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), student discipline and whole-child approaches that foster academic achievement, wellness and belonging.
She says the most rewarding part of her work is connecting directly with students.
"I love getting to know students as individuals, building relationships with families and being of service," Velasco said.
Outside of work, Velasco enjoys spending time with her family. She is the proud mother of two Baldwin Park Unified graduates and treasures spending time with her newly blended family.
Photo: Marybel Velasco, Assistant Principal of Sierra Vista Middle School 2026