2005 Teacher of the Year Award: Nordstrom

It was Sal Tinajero’s innovative teaching methods and ability to motivate his students that earned him the 2005 Teacher of the Year Award.

Currently a speech and history teacher at Fullerton Union High School in California, Tinajero chose to stay close to his California roots. He’s a product of his native Santa Ana’s public school system, which led him to pursue a higher education fi rst at Orange Coast College, where he held various leadership positions, and then to Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where with a scholarship he earned a degree in communication. There, he made history as the university’s first Latino commencement speaker.

A newly graduated educator, Tinajero returned to Santa Ana to work with physically disabled young children at the United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County. He later became a literacy educator, U.S. history teacher and won a seat on the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Directors.

In December 2000, Tinajero joined Fullerton High School, where he launched the school’s fi rst speech and debate team, which now holds the title of Orange County league champions.

For these achievements and more, Tinajero has been bestowed such honors as Junior Achievement of Southern California’s Teacher of the Year, the Giraffe Award for Community Service and the Santa Ana Community Building Award.

As part of the 2005 Teacher of the Year Award, Tinajero was fl own to Washington, D.C. to meet with fi rst lady Laura Bush, officials from the Department of Education and Orange County representatives as well as with Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Tinajero was nominated by students, his principal, a city councilmember, a congressman and the mayor of Santa Ana.

Presented by HISPANIC Magazine and Nordstrom, a dedicated sponsor of 12 years, this annual award recognizes excellence in teaching among Hispanic educators. H