Donna Marshall | Award of Excellence

Donna Marshall | Award of Excellence

Robert Velazquez

Robert Velazquez left his job at the Houston Zoo and came to The Westview School as the Director of Facilities in the Summer of 2021. A witty joke about wild animals and Westview Wildcats is hidden somewhere in this transition, but Robert was looking for a change.

"As fun as it was working at a zoo, I wanted to work in an environment that presented a new set of challenges while also providing a better work-life balance for me and my family." Robert recalls that during his interview, he learned about what Westview needed to improve the school and immediately felt that he was "a perfect fit."

In his two years at Westview, Robert has repeatedly proven to hold a vital role in the school's daily operations. This was clearly evident at the end of the past school year when downed trees and an extended power outage halted Westview operations for several days. Robert's work behind the scenes allowed students to return to a clean and cooled campus after the three-day closure to complete the 2023-2024 school year.

During his short tenure at Westview, Robert has tackled many projects that have made our school and campus better and safer. His colleagues describe Robert as a "perfect fit for Westview." He is always calm, prepared, and very flexible—a highly coveted trait among staff and students at Westview. One co-worker said, "He is organized and thorough and always communicates campus work effectively and efficiently."

Robert is always prepared, flexible, calm, professional, friendly, and willing to help. Robert is an excellent communicator known for addressing small issues before they become bigger ones.

Robert shares this sentiment with his co-workers. He describes Westview as a "truly collaborative environment,” and he was quick to praise his colleagues. “I would not be able to do what I do without the support and cooperation of everyone at Westview," said Robert.

Robert says that the most rewarding part of his job is receiving feedback from staff and even parents about how our work positively impacts the children of Westview. He also shares that his job comes with its own challenges. The biggest one is being unable to accommodate every child's individual needs. He emphasizes that "all the improvements done for the school are made from a holistic approach to ensure everyone benefits from the work."

Robert deserves recognition for all the positive ways he is improving Westview. He credits his colleagues for allowing him to do this job. "I appreciate the support the most," said Robert. "It makes me happy to know that this work doesn't go unnoticed."

It is an honor well-deserved for Robert to receive this year's Donna Marshall Award of Excellence. This award, first given in 2021, is awarded to a non-instructional staff member who makes tremendous contributions to the school and has shown exemplary dedication to the growth and success of The Westview School through support to administration, teachers, and students.