Student Profile: Daria Silvestro

New Jersey native Daria Silvestro relocated to Hawaii after graduating from The College of New Jersey as an English major with a minor in secondary education. Daria originally planned to teach in Hawaii for only two years through the Teach For America program– but after nine years she is still living and working in the beautiful state, most recently as the director of instructional leadership for Teach for America.
 
Daria is passionate about fighting education inequity in Hawaii and has worked in low-income schools to provide quality educational opportunities to students. She eventually realized her passion was in coaching and developing other teachers. Daria enrolled in Rutgers Graduate School of Education’s (GSE) online master’s degree program in adult and continuing education to sharpen her knowledge and skills in designing and assessing learning experiences for recent college graduates and other adult learners.
Daria Silvestro
 
According to Daria, the program is giving her the tools to be a successful coach and teacher to the adult learners she mentors. She is currently enrolled in two courses in which she is learning theories and philosophies that she feels are directly applicable to the work she does.
 
“The program is well organized and offers a rigorous and in-depth learning experience,” noted Daria. “The readings and discussions with my online colleagues really engage me in critical and analytical reflection.”
 
Daria Silvestro Hiking in HawaiiThe flexibility of the program allows Daria to work full-time on the weekdays and focus on her coursework during the weekend.During her free time, Daria enjoys coaching and competing in outrigger canoe paddling in Hawaii’s beautiful ocean through Ewa Pu’uloa Outrigger Canoe Club, an organization that is dedicated to providing Hawaii’s youth opportunities for growth and development.
 
The 30-credit online Ed.M. in adult and continuing education was launched this fall to help students develop a conceptual and practical understanding of adult learners and how to create context that can encourage learning retention. The program is comprised of an online community of students from all over the country, giving participants the opportunity to learn from multiple perspectives and enrich their learning experiences.
 
 
Visit the adult and continuing education program webpage on the GSE website to learn more.