Federico Salas-Isnardi

Federico has served the field of adult education for nearly 40 years in a variety of positions, ranging from adult ESL and GED classroom teacher in a church basement to assistant state director of the Office of Adult Education and Family Literacy in Texas. Federico served as coordinator of workforce education and as adult education program director at two large urban community colleges. He also directed or co-directed the adult education professional development system in Texas under two different administrations. Most recently, Federico retired after serving over five years as the inaugural director of the Mayor’s Office for Adult Literacy in Houston where he helped write and implement the Houston Adult Literacy Blueprint, the nation’s first long-term strategic plan for adult literacy. 

Over the years, Federico has also written textbooks and multilevel adult ESL series for two major publishers and served on many national and state projects, professional boards, and task forces.  He has led workshops, seminars, and presentations on over 80 different topics, and has been invited to keynote many conferences. Despite his many accomplishments, Federico holds his advocacy and justice work for the adults in our communities as the most rewarding work he has done, regardless of any position he has held.  

Federico has lived and learned in three different countries. He arrived in the United States as an adult with very limited English and was teaching his first ESL class only three years later. He is most proud of having helped raise three bilingual, bicultural children.