Castleberry ISD welcomes Manny Saldivar as the district’s college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) advisor. Saldivar joins Castleberry ISD from the Texas Christian University College Advising Corps, where he served as TCU CAC campus coordinator for the past two years. He started his career in education nine years ago as a counselor and college advisor at Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas.
Saldivar holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of Texas at Arlington and a master’s in counseling from Texas Christian University. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership at Pepperdine University.
With a background encompassing both K-12 and post-secondary education, Saldivar has successfully guided more than 1,000 seniors through the college admissions process, resulting in a cumulative $35 million in scholarships awarded. Notably, under his guidance, a DACA recipient and first-generation student achieved acceptance to Harvard University on a full scholarship.
Raised in a loving, traditional Mexican household on Fort Worth’s southside, Saldivar is a passionate advocate for first-generation college-bound students. He is a lifelong learner and enjoys many hobbies, including traveling, listening to self-help podcasts, attending motivational guest speaker series, playing pickleball, going to concerts, karaoke, and attending TCU football games to cheer on the Horned Frogs. He shares his home with Chloe, his seven-year-old pug, who continues to keep him on his toes.
Saldivar is dedicated to making college and career readiness personal and meaningful for every student. He expresses gratitude to the Castleberry Board of Education for the opportunity to join the Castleberry community and looks forward to contributing to its continued success. He is committed to fostering equitable opportunities for underrepresented student populations, driven by a belief in using education to address social injustices and economic disparities.