About Bobby Salcedo
Agustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo (March 21, 1976 - December 31, 2009)
Agustín Roberto “Bobby” Salcedo was born on March 21, 1976, in East Los Angeles to Carlos and Graciela Salcedo, Mexican immigrant parents. He was the younger brother to Griselda, Carlos, Juan, and Tony’s older brother. He was an admired uncle, cousin, friend, and husband.
Growing up in El Monte, Bobby was involved in his community from the beginning. He attended Epiphany Catholic School and participated in Boy Scouts. He was committed to his faith serving as an altar server at Epiphany Church and a devout parishioner at Nativity Catholic Church.
He graduated from Mountain View High School in 1994 and was the student body president. From early on, he was involved in many community service organizations.
Bobby was a past President and member of South El Monte Sister City Association, a non-profit dedicated to serving the community and promoting cultural understanding. With his desire to inspire the youth, he created South El Monte Sister Cities Association Youth to empower his fellow youth to be leaders. He has served as a board member on both the United States National Board, and the International Board of US/Mexico Sister Cities Association.
Knowing the importance of a college education, he went to Cal State Long Beach and graduated with a history degree. Wanting to make a difference in his community, he became a teacher at South El Monte High School where he taught world history and economics. He became involved in students’ lives outside of the classroom by becoming the Class of 2002 Advisor and a track and field coach. His mantra transcended the classroom by instilling leadership skills and confidence on the field as well. Bobby could also be found exercising on the school track and attending school sporting events.
Since 2004 he has served the district as the Assistant Principal of Activities at South El Monte High School then as the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Mountain View High School, and currently at El Monte High School.
Just as Bobby encouraged his students to get a higher education, he also followed his own advice. He attended Cal State San Bernardino and received a Master’s in educational administration. He was in the process of completing work on a doctorate in educational leadership at UCLA.
Bobby knew that in order to get more students through high school and onto college he had to be part of implementing policy that went beyond teaching in the classroom. Hence, he decided to run for the El Monte City School Board. In November 2009, he was re-elected to his second full term.
Through Bobby’s tireless efforts in and out of the classroom, many of his students went on to college, and just like Bobby, many came back to make an impact in their community.
Bobby was also a member of El Monte Kiwanis. In 2002, he served as a Chairman for the El Monte Union High School District’s General Obligation Bond Measure “Y” campaign, and also served as a committee member for the Rio Hondo Measure “A” Citizens’ Oversight Committee.
He was also a founding member of the El Monte Coalition of Latino Professionals, a local organization committed to building leadership capacity through civic participation, cultural awareness, education, and community development in the greater El Monte area. During the past six years Bobby and his colleagues raised more than $50,000 in scholarship money for local high school students and in particular AB540 students in the greater El Monte area.
Bobby’s everlasting smile and humor was an illustration of his enthusiasm for life. He loved the Dodgers, and was a true UCLA Bruin fan. Above all, Bobby was a loving brother to Griselda, Carlos, Juan, Tony and Joe Vu. He cherished and honored his parents Carlos and Graciela. His purest expression of love was when he married Betzy in 2007. They shared a passion for education and their communities.
Even though Bobby was taken away from us at a young age, he lived a meaningful life with purpose.