A new Dean’s Assistant (DA) Visandro Velasquez has joined OH for the ‘26-27 school year, bringing another person to help support students, staff, and the school’s deans.
Velasquez is joining the DA team and will spend his time helping students, keeping an eye on the hallways and making sure students are following school rules.
“What interested me [in this role] was more of a challenge for myself and helping people closer to my age, since I understand them better,” Velazquez said.
His daily responsibilities include monitoring the halls and being in his designated section each period, making sure students are where they are supposed to be and helping keep the school safe.
“I want students to know that I can be another mentor,” he said, “or someone they can trust and talk to when needed.”
When the school year first started, OH senior Julian Hernandez said he had heard students talking about the new DA. Hernandez had not met Velasquez at the time, but said he was interested in seeing what Velasquez would bring to the school.
“I hope that he’s there for the students who need help and just overall makes the school community better,” Hernandez said.
For students to get the help they need, Hernandez said it is important that they feel comfortable going to Velasquez when they have a problem, and that they know he’s another trusted adult in the school.
“Trust is an important part of the job, a dean’s assistant should be welcoming to the students so they do not feel uncomfortable when talking about problems they are having,” Hernandez said.
Velasquez said one of his main goals for his first year is making sure students are safe and know where they are supposed to be. He also wants students to finish the school year feeling accomplished and knowing what they want to do after high school.
OH Dean Taryn Cashwell said Velasquez stood out because he was eager to become part of the team and help students. She also said he showed that he could connect with students while still holding them accountable to the standards at OH.
“He was very eager to become a part of a team and help students become what they need to be,” Cashwell said. “I felt like he could make connections with the kids, but also hold them accountable to the standards that we have here at OH.”
Cashwell said Velasquez will work with the deans by helping maintain safety, answering the radio, helping students get where they need to go and being available when staff needs assistance. She also said his age and personality could help him connect with students and easily adapt to the school community.
Another part of the job is helping the school run smoothly throughout the day. OH Dean Mark Prosise said Velasquez will be one of 10 dean’s assistants who help with students and different situations around the school.
“He had a personality that seemed very approachable,” Prosise said. “He enjoys working with young students and just trying to help them make the right choices.”
Prosise said having another dean’s assistant will make it easier to handle different situations around the school. Dean’s assistants may help get students from classrooms, take students to different areas of the school and assist the deans when needed.
Prosise has also noticed Velasquez starting to build relationships with students. He said he has seen students giving Velasquez high-fives, checking in with him and even spending time with him in the hallway, even though Velasquez has only been at OH for a short time.
For Velasquez, getting to see students grow throughout the year is one of the things he is most excited about. He said watching people mature and learn new things is something he looks forward to as he continues working with students.
As Velasquez continues his first year at OH, Cashwell said he will need to stay open-minded and be ready for each day to be different.
“No one day looks the same here,” Cashwell said. “Be flexible and available when needed.”
With a new role and a new school community to get used to, Velasquez will continue working with students and the deans throughout the school year
“My goal is to be someone students can go to for help while I also learn how to handle the different responsibilities that come with being a dean’s assistant” Velasquez added.
