About

Iván Silva is an educator and leader with over a decade of experience in communication, education, and journalism. He holds a Master of Arts in Communication Studies and multiple professional certifications, including a Graduate Certificate in Media Relations and Strategic Communication. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, and his work spans K-12 education, higher education, and professional development.

At Jimmy Carter Early College High School (JCECHS), Iván launched the RedGoldNews Student Publications, which include a student-run podcast, a student social media account covering student life, and an online newspaper showcasing student work. He has spearheaded campus events such as the Community Día de los Muertos Altar and the Jimmy Carter Legacy Project, where students created research papers, artwork, and multimedia presentations honoring President Jimmy Carter’s life and 100th birthday. He also co-organizes the biannual School Mercado and carnival.

He developed and manages a recruitment program built on student-created marketing materials, visuals, graphics, and presentations — highlighting student talent while strengthening the school’s outreach and community engagement.

As UIL Coordinator and journalism coach, Iván has led students to success at regional and state competitions. He also teaches as an adjunct lecturer at South Texas College, and previously at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, in Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, and Introduction to Mass Communication. His mentorship has helped students reach programs such as the Princeton University Summer Journalism Program.

Experience

K-12 Teaching

• AV Production, Jimmy Carter Early College HS, La Joya ISD, 2018–Present
• Interpersonal Communication (Dual Enrollment), Jimmy Carter Early College HS, La Joya ISD, 2018–Present
• Professional Communication (Dual Enrollment), Jimmy Carter Early College HS, La Joya ISD, 2017–Present
• Journalism, Jimmy Carter Early College HS, La Joya ISD, 2017–2018
• Fifth Grade, John F. Kennedy Elementary, La Joya ISD, 2015–2017
• Fourth Grade, John F. Kennedy Elementary, La Joya ISD, 2012–2015
• Texas Success Initiative, Fifth Grade Summer School, La Joya ISD, 2013–2015

Higher Education

• South Texas College, Adjunct Lecturer I, 2017–Present — Speech 1311 Intro to Communication, 1315 Public Speaking, 1318 Interpersonal Communication, 1307 Intro to Mass Communication
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Adjunct Lecturer I, 2016–2022 — Communication 1311, 1307, 1315
• Instructor & Course Designer, Introduction to Digital Marketing, UTRGV Continuing Education, 2016–2017
• Instructor & Course Designer, Certificate in Digital Marketing, UTRGV Continuing Education, Fall 2015
• Instructor & Course Designer, Certificate in Web Design – Photoshop, UTPA Continuing Education, 2013–2017
• SAT, ACT, GRE & LSAT Instructor, Knowsys Educational Services / UTPA Continuing Education, 2012–2017

Leadership & Service

• RedGoldNews Adviser: Launched and advises the student-run publication, including a podcast, social media, and online newspaper.
• Event Organizer: Community Día de los Muertos Altar, Jimmy Carter Legacy Project, and the biannual School Mercado and carnival.
• UIL Coordinator and Coach: Coaches UIL journalism students to regional and state-level success.
• Recruitment Program Developer: Student-led recruitment marketing, visuals, graphics, and presentations for school outreach.
• Committee Leadership: Senior Class Sponsor, DEIC Campus Representative, Student Placement Committee Teacher Representative.

Conference Presentations

• UIL Capital Conference 2024: Building a dedicated team for UIL academic success — team-building, communication, and leadership.
• UIL Capital Conference 2024: Lessons learned from establishing successful journalism programs.
• La Joya ISD Career & Technical Education In-service 2018: Incorporating communication skills into career-focused learning.
• La Joya ISD EdTech Institute, July 2018: Integrating Apple Classroom and Schoolwork into Instruction and Routines.
• UIL Capital Conference 2017: Best practices in journalism and communication for UIL competitions.
• La Joya ISD EdTech Institute, July 2017: A Spark in the ELA Classroom.
• Region One Tech2Connect, May 2017: A Spark in the ELA Classroom — Using Adobe Spark to Enhance Comprehension.
• Blackboard Training for High School Teachers 2017: Using Blackboard to enhance classroom instruction.
• Apple Technology Integration Academy 2016: Integrating Apple technology into classroom instruction.
• Recruitment Media Development: Training on using media and student-generated content for recruitment and outreach.
• UIL Journalism Workshops: Copy Editing, Headline Writing, News Writing, and Editorial Writing.

Certifications