Alyson Silva joins Sussex Academy as special ed coordinator

Sussex Academy recently announced that Alyson Silva has joined its team as the new special education coordinator and autism specialist.

Silva is a native New Yorker who said her philosophy is, “You must reach a student before you can teach a student.”

This simple statement drives her everyday dedication in teaching, servicing and advocating for students with disabilities. She believes in building a strong collaborative bond among families, educators, administrators and community members to improve overall student success and experience.

A former special education teacher, coordinator autism specialist, and trainer for the Indian River School District, she holds a master’s degree in special education from Wilmington University, autism certification from Wilmington University, bachelor’s degree in behavioral science with a concentration in psychology, and an associate’s degree in applied science with a concentration in early childhood education from SUNY Orange. Silva promoted professional development for staff, students and families to spread awareness and acceptance of autism and special education disabilities.

She is a mother of two children. Josh, 16, is a junior at Sussex Tech, and Gabriella, 12, will join her this year at Sussex Academy.

Silva believes that every child be afforded the opportunity to learn, grow and achieve success in a safe learning environment with educators who value each student’s individual needs while fostering and scaffolding upon the foundation needed to reach their personal educational goals.