Mr. Silverman

Email Address: jsilverman@srvusd.net

Room 4212

Education:

• B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, U.C. Davis

• California Single Subject Teaching Credentials

  • • Industrial and Technology Education

    • Mathematics

    • Physical Education

    • Business

    • CTE (In Process)

Background:

 From a third-generation east bay family, Mr. Silverman was raised in Oakland and Alameda. After graduating from U.C. Davis, Mr. Silverman worked in high tech for 25 years before moving into a second career in education. Beginning in 1982 Mr. Silverman worked in the design and development of computer games for multiple platforms, the first several years working for Broderbund Software, and then founding an entertainment software development and publishing company. The company worked under contract developing games for companies including Electronic Arts, Activision, and others, and designed and developed its own series of award-winning, internationally distributed, educational games. The company also worked in website development in the early days of the Web, and was hired by the Oakland A’s to assist them with their web development. From there, Mr. Silverman worked as a founder on a startup seeking funding to bring broadband wireless data to market, worked as Director of Operations for a venture-funded IT services company, and went on to found a couple of web-based businesses. While his children were growing up, Mr. Silverman founded and ran a volleyball club, and coached girls and boys club and high school teams for more than ten years. Mr. Silverman also served on the board of directors for two nonprofit theater companies: Alameda Children’s Musical Theater; and Virago Theater Company.

Teaching:

Mr. Silverman feels very fortunate to be able to work in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District at Dougherty Valley High School. His decision to change careers was based on several factors: a) wanting to give back to the community; b) the desire to help mold students and prepare them for happy and successful adult lives; and c) to emphasize the value of developing the whole person, including encouraging an appreciation of the arts, fitness and healthy lifestyle, and a lifelong love of learning. He wants all of his students to think critically, keep their natural curiosity, ask questions, and explore beyond what they are told. He also thinks it is important students know it is okay to fail, and that failing is part of the learning process.

Having spent time in industry, Mr. Silverman focuses on project-based learning which emphasizes knowledge, vocabulary, tools, and techniques that translate into the real world. His classes are graded using mastery-based grading where students create portfolios that demonstrate mastery. He is happy to talk with students about the desire hiring managers have for employing workers with skills and experience developing and exercising creativity. 

Mr. Silverman teaches Computer Graphic Arts 1, Computer Graphic Arts 2, Digital Photography, Publications 1 (yearbook), and Advanced Publications. He is club advisor for the following clubs: American Heart Association, Computer Science, DV3D, and Yearbook.