I am honored to join the Cardinal family as your Superintendent of Schools. Entering my 22nd year as a public educator, my career began in the classroom as a high school English teacher before transitioning into administration and curriculum leadership over the last 12 years. Throughout my journey, my commitment has always been rooted in creating environments where students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Our district has a proud tradition of providing a high-quality learning experience for all of our students in a safe and nurturing environment. Serving over 1,700 students in grades K–12 across our two elementary schools, middle school, and high school—as well as welcoming our high school students from the Borough of Riverdale through our long-standing sending-receiving relationship—we take great pride in our close-knit educational community.

The mission of the Pompton Lakes School District is to provide a challenging and viable curriculum for every student, grounded in the firm belief that each child must be known, cared for, and recognized for their unique individual talents and abilities. Our dedicated teachers and school leaders consistently go above and beyond to forge positive relationships and employ highly effective instructional strategies to help all students achieve.

To complement our academic programs, we offer an extensive array of extracurricular activities across all levels. These opportunities foster essential life skills, encourage personal growth, and build strong, lasting connections to our schools. Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, we remain dedicated to exploring new and innovative ways to help our students learn, grow, and succeed.

I look forward to working alongside our students, staff, families, and community members as we build on this strong foundation together.

Thank you for visiting our website. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding our district at (973) 835-7100 ext. 1508 or dvelez@plps.org.