Sal Tinajero serves as Trustee for Area 3. He is a proud father and product of Santa Ana, California and has a passion for education and serving our community. For over 25 years, he has held various roles in Orange County that range from instructor at Fullerton Union High School, to Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Board Member to Mayor Pro Tem of Santa Ana's City Council and the Orange County Airport Commission to name a few. Tinajero has been recognized on multiple occasions for his tireless efforts to serve the community, including being named the California Golden Bell recipient in 2009, 2015 and 2022, and awarded the California Teacher of the Year in 2018. He was invited to the White House and awarded the 2005 National Hispanic Teacher of the Year. He was a guest at the White House in 2014 to participate in President Barack Obama's educational symposium regarding the affordability of secondary education. He was also invited to then Vice President Joe Biden's house in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month in September 2012. On June 30, 2021 Congressman Lou Correa Honored Sal Tinajero and his team for winning the national championship in speech and debate on the House of Representatives floor and in 2024 Congresswoman Young Kim flew an American flag over the U.S. Capital in his honor. His goal as a member of the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees is to assure affordable tuition so that everyone has access to a college education. He strives to create paths toward employment by cultivating and collaborating with businesses and pursues partnerships that can strengthen educational opportunities to help revitalize the District's service area and attract business. Tinajero earned his Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and a Master of Arts in Cross Cultural Education from National University in San Diego, California. He currently works as a district coordinator for speech and debate at the West Covina Unified School.
President Tinajero can be reached by
email.
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