Staff Series: Silvia Maresca – Special Services Academic Counselor

My connection with Seton Home Study School began in 2006 when my parents enrolled me and my siblings. I was in third grade and continued to be homeschooled through high school. Upon graduating, I wanted to work with children, so I studied Education.

After two years of community college, I transferred to Seton Hall University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education. In February 2022, I relocated from New Jersey to Front Royal, Virginia, and began working for the Seton Special Services Department.

It all Came Together at Seton

Here, my love for the Catholic Faith, education, homeschooling, and helping children all came together. It is a blessing each day to share in Seton’s mission, and I am very grateful to Dr. Clark, and all the Seton staff, past and present.

I am the third oldest of six siblings. Since my parents are Italian, we grew up bilingual, with a great fascination for the Italian language, culture, and food. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking/baking, crocheting, singing in church choir, walking in nature, babysitting, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

The most memorable part of homeschooling was how closely it bonded me with my family. We were not spending hours of the day in separate classrooms or rushing from one activity to the next. Instead, we found ourselves learning, praying, sharing meals, singing, dancing, playing, and making memories together, which I believe would have been rare had we not been homeschooled.

As a Special Services counselor, I regularly assist parents in determining the best curriculum for their students. This may entail adjusting the level of classes, giving modified tests/assignments, or recommending alternate materials.

Treasure Your Homeschooling Years

Tailoring the curriculum to the student’s specific needs ensures that they are not given unrealistic expectations but have the chance to achieve learning at their own pace.

My education and experience with homeschooling have taught me the importance of cultivating a positive family life where love for Christ is at the center. I strongly encourage parents and students to treasure the homeschooling years and not worry about making every day perfect.

When I was homeschooled, there were days when I did not even complete an entire math lesson, and we were always “behind.” However, I know that if love and trust in God remain the priority, the graces will flow, as they did for me and my family.

My favorite moments on the job are when parents share their children’s learning achievements. This is very rewarding when working with students with disabilities because it is often more challenging to find the right strategies, and the students have to put in greater effort to accomplish tasks. When parents take the time to express their joy with me, it truly makes my day!

More About Special Services

You can learn about our Special Services Department here and how we may be able to help you with some modification to a standard curriculum. You can reach us by email ssdept@setonhome.org and our phone number is 540-622-5576.