Today we’d like to introduce you to Salvador
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sal Tinajero is a highly respected and one of the most accomplished Latinx coaches in the United States. He has coached 2 national champions and many students to the national final round. He has demonstrated that by surrounding our most vulnerable students with caring teachers and adequate resources, they can outperform more affluent students. His success at Fullerton Union high school was so impactful to Latinx students, that Mr. Tinajero was, flown to the White House and he received the National Hispanic Teacher of the Year award from former First Lady Laura Bush in 2006.
Sal Tinajero’s visionary leadership in Speech & Debate has transformed opportunities for Latinx students. He established nine district-wide programs and in 2021, he led Santa Ana’s all female Latinx team to win the National School of Excellence. Currently, he oversees 79 elementary programs, 27 middle school and 10 high school programs in Illinois and California, more importantly, he has recruited 2,000 new students as of today to join forensics. Mr. Tinajero is the a premier distinguished ambassador for forensics in the Latinx community, creating numerous highly successful programs. He opens pathways to college forensics, with one student gaining national recognition by winning Prose at nationals in 2014 and later being accepted into every Ivy League school in America.
Sal Tinajero, is the only non-college coach to host both the college National Forensic Association and the American Forensics Association national tournaments. His work fosters relationships with college coaches. Those relationships help him create pathways for all students but primarily underrepresented Latinx students to compete at the college level with scholarships.
Sal has an impressive coaching record, leading both Fullerton and Santa Ana high schools to a combined 5 national schools of excellence and 11 middle school national school of excellence. He earned 3 California Golden Bell Awards for reducing the achievement gap through forensics. His community leadership includes serving as school board president, mayor pro tem, college trustee president, and chair of the Orange County Airport Commission.
Sal continues to expand forensics into Latinx underserved districts and is a fierce supporter and both high school and middle school Sapphire sponsor of the NSDA. Sal’s colleagues will tell you that they can’t think of another coach who has had the success and impact in the Latinx community as Mr. Tinajero. Today, his north star continues to be to break students out of poverty through forensics
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although it has been an exciting and successful journey, there have been obstacles. One was the political shifts that happen within public education every few years. It is not uncommon for superintendents to lead a district for no more than 3-5 years. If you have not had success and established yourself as a program that has an impact and changes student lives for the better, the new leadership will oftentimes decide to change direction and not have your program continue. The challenge becomes that you must have success immediately, which can be an uphill battle, but one that we have learned to take on.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Advantage Communications, we believe that all students should have access to the skills developed through speech and debate. For this purpose, we partner with school districts across the country to provide speech and debate programs to at risk students.
Students today are expected to brand themselves digitally and in person. Advantage Communications focuses on personal development, teamwork, empathy, writing, and public speaking to ensure students prepare to enter today’s workforce. Advantage communication believes we all have a voice, but it takes practice to feel empowered and to lead. Our students learn how to lead others because they make the most of their resources, networks, and skills to drive their lives and become tomorrow’s leaders.
We work with all students to allow them access to learn critical communications skills necessary to compete in their Speech and Debate competitions, but more importantly in their future career paths.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking in my opinion is all about working with others and listening to their goals. Once you see someone’s goals, you can work to see where you can align and work together. I have also spent many years in public service which lends itself well to connecting and networking with others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.advantagespeechanddebate.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advantagespeechdebate?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/advantagespeechanddebate
