Erica has been an environmental educator since 2004, teaching hands-on environmental science to children and adults throughout the east coast. Graduating with a B.S. in Natural Resources Education from Virginia Tech, she has used her skills to educate through the U.S.D.A Forest Service in Virginia, NOAA in Maryland, the North Carolina Coastal Reserve, and Dewees Island in South Carolina. Recently, Erica was a Marine Science Instructor with NHMI at Seacamp and worked in a first through third year classroom at the Montessori Elementary Charter School in Key West.

She brings her hands-on environmental education experience and passion for the ocean into the science classroom at Sigsbee! Her enthusiastic "get excited" attitude instills a desire to learn and passion to care for our environment. Erica enjoys riding her bike around Key West, running, snorkeling and scuba diving. Erica is thrilled to be a part of Sigsbee for its second year!

I'm originally from Tampa, but grew up in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I moved to Myrtle Beach, SC to attend Coastal Carolina University where I began as a marine science major. After 2 years, I discovered my passion.art! I'm still very interested in marine science and continue learning about our marine environment through diving. I completed my BA (Bachelor of Art) in Studio Art and later completed my MAT (Masters of Art in Teaching). I taught at 2 schools in South Carolina before moving here to teach at Sigsbee last year. Sigsbee has been a wonderful teaching experience and I hope to continue my career here for many years to come. To see what's currently occurring in art class, check out my blog, SCS Art Happenings at www.scsart.blogspot.com.

I have been married to a "Conch" for 27 years, and we have remained in the lower keys all these years. We have 2 children, a daughter Elizabeth, 24, and a son Turner, 16. Elizabeth has been married for 2½ years. She and her husband Courtney have recently moved to St. Petersburg so that she can attend USF - she wants to be a teacher! Turner attends Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia. He will be a junior this year. He is very interested in seeking a military career.

I have previously worked for the Tax Collector as a tag agent supervisor and then the Property Appraiser, Mr. Ervin Higgs, as a Certified Florida Evaluator. When my father-in-law retired in 1995, Ed and I purchased his welding shop and I became Ed's office manager. Ed and I worked closely together for about 7 years then we down-sized, and I no longer needed to run the office.

I became a volunteer at Sigsbee when my son attended 4th and 5th grades here. I volunteered so much that I was asked to apply for the Media Manager position, and I have been here ever since. This will be my 7th year at Sigsbee and I'm sure it will be the best yet! I was excited to see all the familiar faces, and I enjoyed meeting all the new ones, too! Go Scubabees!

Coach Giusti grew up in Frederick, Maryland and attended McDaniel College where he received his degree in exercise science. This will be Coach Giusti’s sixth year as a physical education teacher at the elementary level. His goal at Sigsbee is to combine fitness with skill based instruction to provide students with a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. In Coach’s free time he enjoys being active and participating in anything outdoors and on the water.

Kenny Silverman began playing piano at age seven in Jersey City, New Jersey. He studied composition and orchestration at Queens College in New York City. In 1972 he made his professional playing debut at the Clam Broth House in Hoboken, New Jersey and went on to perform throughout the New York area. In 1979 he moved to San Francisco where he presided as house pianist at the Pelican Inn in Muir Beach for five years. He performed at the Fairmont Hotel and Sausalito's No Name Bar, Houlihan's Old Place, Flynn's Landing and the Sausalito Hotel.

Kenny made Eugene, Oregon his home in 1985. He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Oregon in 1987. He has taught music in the Oregon and Washington public schools. Now he has chosen to join the Sigsbee staff as Music Specialist and 6th grade Band Director and is very excited about joining the Sigsbee team!

Kenny has worked as a professional composer, arranger and music director since 1979.He has composed music for student and professional use including three children's ecological operas, "Save the Earth!" (1993), "The Lorax", by Dr. Seuss (1993) and "Watershed" (1996). He is currently working on a musical adaptation of An "Enemy of the People", by Henrik Ibsen.

Hello everyone! Here are my fun facts: I was born and raised on a ranch in Texas and moved to Florida when I was in high school. I went to Gulf Coast Community College on a volleyball scholarship, academic scholarship, and board scholarship (I served on the college board as a student and entertainment chair liaison). In college I found my brave knight on a white horse, actually my husband was a surfer on a board, but the same awe applies. We have been married for five years and have our wonderful son Wesley who is attending Sigsbee Charter. I am a certified personal trainer and have a passion for sports and fitness. My NFL choice is the Dallas Cowboys and college is FSU Seminoles (talking about football). I am a Sunday school teacher at Glad Tidings Community Church. I am super excited to working with the children and staff to make Sigsbee Charter an awesome school. My philosophy is to stay FOCUSed. That is: Follow On Course Until Successful!

Tiffany Da Silva is eager to be returning as a VPK teacher to Sigsbee. She has moved here from the New England area where she worked with an early education program for at-risk children. She has a B.A. specializing in Child Development and is currently working on a M.A. in Early Elementary. Her philosophy for learning is that each child is unique and learns in a different way in order to reach his or her full potential. It is her goal to develop a lasting love of learning within the children.

Ms. DaSilva also enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, kayaking, and photography. She has two daughters, who attend Sigsbee Charter School. Living in paradise, they try hard to get out and enjoy the beautiful seascape that Key West has to offer.