Marisa Silvestri takes on full-time position as Samo Athletic Director

Claire GoldbergStaff WriterMarisa Silvestri will be taking on full responsibility as Athletic Director, in place of former co-director Daniel Escalera.Silvestri had served as Athletics Co-Director since the beginning of this school year. She previously taught Freshman Seminar, but now with the full-time position of Athletic Director, her classes are being given to teacher Milos Blagojevic.Silvestri said that it will be difficult to fill Escalera’s shoes.“I feel that Escalera did a great job encouraging and supporting student-athletes and coaches at Samo and I hope to follow in those footsteps,” Silvestri said. “In the next few years I hope to establish a larger community support system for our athletic programs including fundraising and attendance at events. I also look to incorporate alumni in athletic events to help build and support the Samo family.”Students who were in history teacher Robert Alvarado’s AM period U.S. History class were moved to Escalera’s class without notification early in second semester. This was due to the fact that Escalera needed to have five academic classes in order to fulfill the requirement to teach at Samo, according to Principal Laurel Fretz. Alvarado said he was given little notice to this change and that he was sent a brief email only a few days before explaining that his class would be moved.“We found out when we arrived to AM class the morning of the second day back from break,” Julia Gordon (’14) said. “Escalera didn’t tell us much except for that a few teachers’ schedules changed second semester.”Escalera is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Administration and said he will continue to teach social studies, AVID and Language Immersion at Samo. He had served the position of Athletics Director for the past few years and according to Fretz, is now returning to the classroom full-time.“His school spirit and enthusiasm for supporting our athletes is unparalleled,” Fretz said. “He will continue to be involved with promoting school spirit. Silvestri will continue working in our Athletics office, supporting our student athletes and coaches.”cgoldberg@thesamohi.com