Luis Guillen has been a dedicated teacher and track coach in the Valparaiso area for over 13 years. He has had the opportunity to teach a few subjects over the course of his career but has been teaching seventh-grade social studies at Union Township Middle School for the last eight years.
“I love working with the kids every day and the historical subjects we deal with. Most kids think history is a bit boring, so I try to bring history to life for them with fun activities and engage with them,” Guillen said.
Early in college, Guillen realized that the computer science degree he was pursuing was not a good fit and wanted something different. As a lifelong track athlete, a coaching career seemed like a better option, and he talked to his former coach and mentor, Rick Torres, who recommended education as a way to get into coaching.
“I had more of an influence closer to home and was able to help out local middle schools with their teams. It was a match made in heaven, and that’s where I am at today,” Guillen said.
Guillen expressed that his background in technology has helped him easily support his students and colleagues as they adjusted to the virtual atmosphere over the last academic year. He values flexibility and empathy in his work, especially with how many changes students and their families have experienced recently.
“Being able to work with young kids and athletes, you can really help them get through whatever it is they are going through. Everyone is different and being able to help them is important to me and why I do what I do,” Guillen said.
In his free time, Guillen enjoys spending time with his golden retriever, Bucklee, watching sports, and running his race timing and event management company, Tempo Run Timing & Events.
Guillen started Tempo Run in April 2020. He has been part of the running community for a long time and decided that this was a good time to dedicate his energy and resources to building his company.
“It was an idea I had about 10 years ago and never had the capital to pull it off. In the middle of the pandemic, I was able to do some research and piece it all together,” Guillen said.
Tempo Run has given Guillen an opportunity to connect with local companies and non-profits and help them to execute 5K races. Guillen’s goal is to increase the running experience and make it fun for beginners and experienced runners alike.
“People come out in droves because they enjoy what you are doing and they know you are doing a good thing,” Guillen said. “A lot of races are fundraisers, and a lot of people will support the cause whether they are runners or not.”
Guillen credits the strong support system he has in his family, friends, and colleagues as inspiration in his career. He continues to dedicate his time to his passions, teaching and running, and looks forward to continuing to give back to his community through both areas.
For more information on Tempo Run Timing & Events, visit https://www.temporuntiming.com/.