Her Story
About Leora
Leora Velez is an experienced education and administrative professional with 25 years of experience in the education field, including 15 years with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She currently serves as Senior Administrative Secretary and Treasurer at Hidden Valley, where she supports school leadership, staff, students, and families while helping ensure efficient day-to-day operations. Throughout her career, Leora has built a reputation for reliability, initiative, organization, and a strong commitment to maintaining high standards of service and accountability.
In her role at Hidden Valley, Leora manages a broad range of administrative and financial responsibilities, including front office operations, records management, budget tracking, bookkeeping, purchasing, and reporting. She oversees a school budget of approximately $1 million encompassing Title I and local funds, while providing administrative support to a school community serving approximately 800 students from pre-K through fifth grade. Her work requires careful attention to detail, financial responsibility, confidentiality, communication, and the ability to coordinate effectively with administrators, employees, students, parents, and community members.
Leora's professional approach is grounded in integrity, compassion, adaptability, and a commitment to service. She is particularly passionate about supporting students and families by meeting them where they are and helping create an environment in which every student has an opportunity to grow. In addition to her administrative and financial expertise, Leora offers Spanish translation and interpreting services, drawing on her experience working with diverse communities. Her combination of educational experience, administrative leadership, financial management, and bilingual communication skills enables her to contribute meaningfully to schools, organizations, and the communities they serve.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Leora
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to consistency, resilience, integrity, and initiative. After more than 25 years in education, I’ve learned to adapt to challenges, take responsibility, and find solutions rather than wait for others to act. Most importantly, I value compassion, strong relationships, and serving others, because I believe true success comes from making a positive difference in the lives of students, families, and the community.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to find my niche, understand my strengths, and strive to become excellent at what I do. I also believe integrity, patience, and resilience are essential to building a meaningful career. By staying dependable, compassionate, and committed to learning, I can continue growing while making a positive difference in the people and community I serve.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering education is to find your niche, protect your integrity, and never underestimate the power of patience and compassion. Build resilience, listen without judgment, and meet students and families where they are. Genuine care and understanding can make a lasting difference, especially during challenging times.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in education today is keeping students engaged in a world shaped by technology and social media. At the same time, I see an opportunity to build stronger connections by understanding students’ experiences, showing genuine interest, and recognizing their individual needs and potential. I believe education is most effective when we look beyond the classroom and focus on the whole student.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, compassion, faith, family, service, and excellence. I strive to treat everyone with dignity, give my best in everything I do, and use my work to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Above all, I want to lead with love and generosity while leaving a positive legacy for my family and community.
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