Charles A. Silvestri

As a member of the Clark County community for more than 50 years, Charles A. Silvestri’s contributions are longstanding. Born in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania in 1934, Charles Silvestri dedicated his life to education. Earning his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from UNR (University of Nevada, Reno), he continued his education with a Master’s degree in Administration and Supervision at UNLV (University of Nevada, Las Vegas). The latter came, Charles proudly admits, “while Maryland Parkway was a dirt road between Flamingo Road and the airport!” Charles was a history/government teacher from 1963-1968 at Hyde Park JHS and Valley HS. He has also taught in the College of Education at UNLV. Charles and his wife, Marydean Martin, have been married for nearly 50 years.

Mr. Silvestri served the Clark County School District for 26 years. Many of those years he spent in the Personnel Division, where he was Assistant Personnel Manager and then Associate Superintendent, Personnel Services. During this period he wrote the district’s first Affirmative Action plan and served as the district’s first Affirmative Action Officer. As chief negotiator for the district, he negotiated 18 labor contracts with the district’s three employee unions in a span of 13 years. While Clark County was becoming one of the largest districts in the country, Charles planned and directed a program designed to recruit applicants for vacancies in administrative, supervisory and teaching positions.

From 1981-1982, Charles was the Acting Superintendent of Schools. The later years of his career with the school district were as Deputy Superintendent, and Administrative Services Unit, which included the Personnel Division and the Business and Finance Division. He served as a district lobbyist from 1979-1989 paying special attention to proposals on the personnel function and employer/employee relations. Most recently, Mr. Silvestri has been actively involved with Nevada Public Employees’ Retirement System, serving as trustee, vice chairman, and chairman. He is currently serving in his third, 4-year term.

Mr. Silvestri has been deemed to, “Exemplify the power of communication… when it comes to education,” by U.S. Senator Reid. He has a reputation for treating all fairly and with respect. It has been said that “no one is more dedicated to the betterment of education” than Charles Silvestri. His many years of outstanding service to the district and community embody this again and again.