Biography

Dr. Susan Silver is a distinguished educational leader with over 15 years of experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership, and equity-focused initiatives. As Assistant Superintendent for the Upper Merion Area School District, Dr. Silver has demonstrated exceptional expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive educational programs that serve diverse learners and promote inclusive excellence. Her work spans multiple domains, including professional development, federal program coordination, and strategic planning, with a particular focus on supporting educators of color and linguistically diverse learners. As an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University and active member of the Pennsylvania Educators Diversity Consortium, Dr. Silver is committed to advancing educational equity, fostering inclusive learning environments, and preparing the next generation of educational leaders.

Transformational Leadership Impact

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Silver has demonstrated expertise in:

• Curriculum and Instructional Leadership: Overseeing comprehensive curriculum development, implementation, and monitoring for grades K-12, ensuring alignment with best practices and standards-based instruction across all content areas.

• Professional Development and Educator Support: Designing and implementing district-wide professional learning programs, including new teacher induction, mentoring and coaching systems, and leadership development initiatives that support educator growth and retention.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership: Co-chairing district-wide DEI initiatives and serving as a recognized expert in supporting teachers of color through innovative induction and mentoring programs that address systemic barriers and promote inclusive excellence.

• Federal and State Program Management: Coordinating and monitoring multiple federal grants (Title I, II, III, IV) and state funding streams, ensuring compliance while maximizing impact on student learning and educator effectiveness.

• Strategic Systems Design: Leading comprehensive planning initiatives, including Future-Ready frameworks and multi-tiered support systems that align resources with student needs and organizational goals.

 

Current Role

Dr. Silver serves as Assistant Superintendent for the Upper Merion Area School District, where she provides visionary leadership for curriculum, instruction, and professional development initiatives serving over 3,000 students. In this role, she leads cross-functional teams in implementing equity-focused programs that have significantly improved outcomes for diverse learners, including English learners and students with disabilities. Her leadership of the district's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives has positioned Upper Merion as a model for other districts seeking to create more inclusive educational environments.

Concurrently, Dr. Silver serves as Adjunct Professor in Educational Leadership at Arcadia University, where she facilitates graduate-level coursework in literacy strategies, instructional leadership, and supervision. Her teaching focuses on preparing educational leaders to address contemporary challenges in curriculum design, teacher evaluation, and school improvement through inquiry-based approaches.

Summary of Prior Experience

Dr. Silver's career trajectory demonstrates progressive leadership growth from the classroom to the district level. As Director of Curriculum and Instruction, she established foundational systems for instructional excellence and educator effectiveness. Her experience as Elementary Principal at Caley Elementary School provided hands-on leadership experience managing comprehensive school operations, including special education coordination, budget management, and community engagement. Her early roles as Assistant Principal and Literacy Specialist in the Upper Darby School District grounded her understanding of curriculum implementation, assessment practices, and intervention strategies that continue to inform her current leadership approach.

 

Credentials and Certifications

• Executive Coaching Certification, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (In Progress, 2025)

• Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility (Arcadia University)

• Administration and Supervisory Certification (St. Joseph's University)

• Master of Education in Reading/Reading Certification (Arcadia University)

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (Temple University)