Her goals were to change the lives of students in her classroom and she began that mission in her neighborhood elementary school that she attended Roosevelt Elementary in McAllen. She continued that mission in Weslaco where she taught at Rudy Silva Elementary in Weslaco in a dual language elementary school and led the bilingual department at that school. She taught at several elementary grade levels and in her last year as a fifth-grade science teacher 100% percent of her students in her bilingual class passed the state exam and over 60% reached commended status. She earned her Master’s in Educational Leadership from UTRGV in 2010.

In 2010 Sylvia joined IDEA Public Schools as a teacher recruiter. She was tasked with finding teachers like her, passionate teachers that would transform the lives of students in the Rio Grande Valley, for the fast-growing organization. She joined IDEA Weslaco Academy in 2011 as an Assistant Principal of Instruction and has made this campus her home ever since. She moved up the ranks and took over as the campus principal in 2017-2018. IDEA Weslaco Academy has been recognized as the best academy/ primary school 4 times during her tenure.

Sylvia lives in Weslaco with her husband and three boys, all proud IDEA students.  She is proud of serving the Weslaco community and ensuring that 100% of her students reach their full potential.