Sindee Silveira
Position: Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher
School: Washington Academic Middle School
School District: Sanger Unified
City, State: Sanger, CA
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Sindee Silveira was nominated by her vice principal, Karen Vowell.
Ms. Silveira is not only a valued member of the Washington Academy Middle School staff, but she is also highly respected within her district. She continually strives to find new, innovative ways to engage students and close the learning gap. She has recently taken the lead on implementing Universal Design for Learning within her classroom, which offers flexible seating such as yoga balls for chairs and standing desks.
To meet the diverse learning needs of her students, she allows for choice in activities so students can demonstrate their acquisition of concepts. She continually takes each student's needs into account, making adjustments to her teaching methods and procedures to meet those specific needs.
Ms. Silveira has been a valued member to her district Social Studies committees in attending training, and piloting units through the Literacy Design Collaborative and Project Based Learning. She has also been an intregral part in creating district benchmark tests for Social Studies. Each week, she and her Professional Learning Community meet to discuss student data, lesson design, and best practices. Ms. Silveira is a team player in all that she does.
She is an inspiration to her students in the classroom and in extra-curricular activities. She has been the girls' volleyball coach for several years, creating relationships with students which transpire into respect and trust within the classroom.
"I am very proud to have Ms. Silveira as part of my staff," Vowell said. She is definitely a LifeChanger."
Sindee is a great teacher. I am proud to be one of her colleagues. She deserves to be nominated as a LifeChanger. I have been fortunate enough to work with her throughout my academic career. She taught me how to be a professional as my BTSA support provider my first two years here in Sanger Unified. She has a true passion for history. In her classes her students not only learn about academic content, but more importantly, the rewards of hard work, perseverance, and integrity. I know she has touched the lives of countless students and she is a LifeChanger.
I have had the pleasure of working with Sindee for the last 10 years and I know without a doubt that she has changed the lives of her students! She is a life-long learner who is constantly striving to educate herself so that she can better educate her students. She loves our content area of history, but she loves her students even more. Her classroom is not only a place of learning, it a place where students know that they are cared for and a place where they feel safe. We are very lucky to have such a caring and compassionate teacher on our staff.
When I think of Sindee as a teacher, the following words come to mind; firm, fair, entertaining, story-teller, time traveler, competitive, worldly, and nurturing! The definition of Life-Changer is altering a person's life or circumstances in a substantial way. Sindee has altered many of her students' lives. I have had the pleasure of working with Sindee for the past seventeen years. Throughout these years, I have witnessed many amazing life changing moments! She has been extremely instrumental in helping many students find their love of HISTORY through her caring and loving nature. As a co-worker, I have watched numerous students come to visit her after they graduate from high school to thank her for changing their lives! The impact she has had on them is so dramatic that they often choose to become history teachers themselves. Sindee has the ability to make history come alive! She takes her students on a journey. This exciting journey comes from her true love of the subject matter, but more importantly the love for her students! She has a gift of making ALL kids feel special regardless if they are an honor's student, foster kid, SDC student, awkward student, or the quiet and unassuming student. However, even more powerful than all of this is the fact that she has a way of teaching cultural diversity. She believes in learning from one another, but she knows that we must first have a level of understanding about each other in order for collaboration and cooperation to take place. While coaching volleyball with Sindee, I have watched her work her magic with the diverse teams of athletes year after year. These athletes come from varying cultures and backgrounds. By the end of the season, these athletes respect one another and become a family! Sindee is definitely a life changer!
Ms. Silveira was my teacher in 2005-2006. Being that I was a foster child she became a very integral part of my life. She always encouraged me to do my best regardless of my home situation. Even to this day she continues to guide me and teach me I am now 27 and still keep in contact with her. She truly believes in her students and always wants to help them learn. She always encouraged her students to push the envelope and think outside of the box. She's truly the best of the best. I am so thankful for all that she has taught me both in and out of the classroom. She is such an inspiration to not only myself buy so many other students. She has made such an impact on my life and I can honestly say that my life wouldn't be the same without her. Thank you for all that you did and continue to do in my life.
Having Sindee as a friend for about 7 years, I always knew she was a great teacher and loved her career and her students were always of the utmost importance to her.
I am so thrilled she is nominated for this well deserved and prestigious award!
Congratulations Sindee!!! Well done!!!
Ms. Silveira as a middle school teacher and a coach I have seen her transform many lives. Middle school can be somewhat challenging at times. She has shown low confident students that thought they could not succeed, to succeed both in and outside the classroom. I have seen her students not only grow academically but as an individual as well. I know each and every life she touches that their lives are better because of her. Ms. Silveira is a truly life changing teacher both in and outside of the classroom.
In January of 2000, I was the Principal of Washington Academic Middle School. We had a social studies teacher who quit in October, and I had numerous substitute teachers come in and out of the classroom.
I contacted Fresno State University Teacher Credentialing Program and asked for their best student teacher who would be finishing the program in December. The supervisor immediately told me about Sindee Silveira and shared why she was so highly qualified.
In January of 2001, I hired Sindee to teach 8th grade social studies, and she had an immediate impact the moment she first stepped into the classroom! From day one, she quickly established a safe, welcoming environment and assured the students that she was there for them and was not going anywhere. The culture changed immediately!
Students were engaged in learning, respectful to each other and, most importantly, they were excited to learn. They trusted her and worked hard for her because they knew she believed in them. As a middle school student, so much is happening and emotions can be high, often in a negative way. A teacher who can make a positive impact on so many lives each day is truly changing the lives of students.
In the next five years as Sindee's supervisor, I continued to observe an amazing culture filled with encouragement, and a high degree of learning! Every student has a story and many of those stories of middle school students involved the positive impact that Sindee Silveira had on their lives during their most formative years. Many have chosen to pursue careers in education to emulate the impact that the one teacher had on the education and lives of others.
My own nephew, who did not fit into the mainstream of a large middle school, found an inspiring teacher who would listen to him during breaks. She shared many exciting history stories and listened to his own stories and thoughts. She gave him confidence and the love of learning. He is now 19 years old and still in contact with his 8th grade social studies teacher to share thoughts and stories.
I have now been an administrator in Sanger Unified School District for 23 years, and I can honestly say that I would have a hard time trying to find a better candidate for this recognition. Sindee Silveira has the "IT Factor". It cannot be taught, it cannot be faked, it comes from the heart, and it is lasting in the lives of those touched!
Ms. Silveira has been both teacher and volleyball coach to my sons. As a teacher, she brought history to life for them and developed their love for the subject. As a volleyball coach, I have watched her turn 14 athletes into a family every season; they weren't just teammates, they became brothers! Ms. Silveira has been like a second mom to my boys, too. It has been an honor to share my children with her; they are better athletes, better students, and better human beings because of her influence in their lives at WAMS 6th-8th grade. I know her influence will continue throughout their lives. She truly is a Lifechanger!
