Counselor returns to McKinley South End Academy after earning Bronze Star Award for service in Iraq

BOSTON - Major Carlos V. Silva, U.S. Army Reserves, recently returned to his position as a guidance advisor at the William McKinley South End Academy after serving for more than a year in the war in Iraq, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal.

From August 2005 through October 2006, Major Silva led the Boston-based 883rd Medical Company Combat Stress Control Unit, providing thousands of soldiers with critical mental health services around issues of trauma, loss, and adjustment to military life. While in Iraq, Major Silva and his team served in hostile territory and assisted in two mass casualty incidents, transporting soldiers injured in the line of duty. The Bronze Star Medal is fourth-highest award presented by the United States Armed Forces for bravery, heroism or meritorious service.

Major Silva worked as a guidance advisor at the school for approximately 10 years before his deployment to Iraq. For five years, he served as co-chair of the School Site Council. Students and staff welcomed him back to the school with a large banner draped across the building.

"We are very proud to welcome Carlos Silva back to the U.S. and back to the Boston Public Schools after a distinguished tour of duty overseas," said Superintendent Michael G. Contompasis. "He truly is a hero, not only for his service to the troops in Iraq, but also for his tremendous service every day to the students of McKinley South End Academy."

The McKinley South End Academy is one of four McKinley Schools in the district, which provide special education services to approximately 450 students with emotional, behavioral, and learning needs in kindergarten through grade 12.

Bonnie Miller, Headmaster of the McKinley Schools, said, "Carlos has talked about how much his prior experiences at McKinley helped him in his work in Iraq. Sadly, most of the soldiers he provided support for were not much older than the McKinley students with whom he works. His experiences in helping students sort out family issues, control their behavior, and deal with loss, violence, and trauma, as well as his experience here in crisis intervention, were very useful experience for the similar situations being faced by the soldiers he supported and counseled."

The Boston Public Schools serves approximately 57,000 pre-kindergarten through grade 12 students in 14