Dr. Duarte M. Silva
Professor at Stanford University and Executive Director of California World Language Project
Dr. Duarte Silva is presently the Executive Director of the California World Language Project (CWLP) in the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University. The Project, designed to strengthen and enhance professional development opportunities for California's language educators, currently has seven regional sites at campuses of the California State University, independent colleges and universities, and county offices of education. Dr. Silva is responsible for providing leadership to the Project’s programs statewide, as well as, for overseeing the evaluating of the programs outcomes implemented in each of the sites.
As a former member of the California Curriculum Commission, Dr. Silva, chaired the World Language Subject Matter Committee and was a member of several other committees which advises the State Board of Education on a variety of language related issues. In his capacity as Commissioner, and of CWLP’s Executive Director, he has chaired several state adoptions of instructional materials for World Language and English Language Development students, and oversaw the development of criteria for the role of technology in supporting the teaching of languages.
Dr. Silva currently serves on the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Global Navigator Advisory Board, a program that funds more than 2000 students a year to study abroad and have the opportunity to apply their language and culture skills across the globe. Until recently served on the Board of American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), was appointed by the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as a member of the Professional Development English Learner Advisory Committee, and by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) as a member of its English Language Development Credential Panel and served as Chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee for Language Educators for the New Vision in Action Project, and was a member of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Foreign Language Standards’ Committee.
Dr. Silva has published several articles in peer-reviewed journal in the area of World Language education and professional development. His most recent publication, Learning World Languages and Cultures in California: A Stimulus for Academic and Economic Success, is an important tool for advocating for the multiple benefits of World Language education for all students. Most recently he co-chaired the process that inspired the publication of the “Portuguese Beyond Borders: A Visionary Strategic Plan for Advancing the Learning of Portuguese Languages and California”
He has provided testimony that impacted state and federal legislation benefiting the teaching and learning of cultures, is a member of the California Language Teachers Association’s Advocacy Committee, and a regular contributor to the Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) efforts to seek funding to support World Language education and international exchange programs.
Dr. Silva holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Languages and English from California State University Stanislaus, a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Sacramento State University, Sacramento and a Doctorate in International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco. In addition to his degrees, he earned the following teaching credential authorizations: Administrative Services Credential, Specialist Credential; Bilingual Cross-Cultural Education, and a Standard Secondary Teaching Credential.