A high school engineering and science teacher from the Appoquinimink School District is Delaware’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year.

Cory Hafer of Middletown High School now is Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Governor John Carney made the announcement during a Dover ceremony to honor the 20 district/charter teachers of the year.

Hafer will use his position to advocate for the importance of building student connections.

“We need to build deep connections by ensuring that all our actions help students feel welcome and supported. When students break norms, we should develop consequences with students that help them restore harm done and learn from mistakes. The grading systems we use should align with this growth mindset. Each day we need to remind our students they matter, listen to their concerns, and allow them to guide their learning,” he said. “Our ultimate goal should be to have sufficient connections with our students that they feel comfortable being themselves and confident asking for support. Without these connections, other learning strategies and efforts to develop strong lessons will not meet the needs of all learners.”

In his application, Hafer reflected on how when he talks to other teachers in his role as a “restorative champion,” a major misconception exists that restorative practices require being soft on discipline.

“Teachers want students to learn and capitalize on teachable moments. When students misbehave, it is easy to fall into a punitive, fixed mindset, assigning consequences but not trying to figure out why the behavior occurred or how to help students learn to avoid future mistakes,” he said. “Punishment without restoration pushes students away from our community, when we really want them to know they are a vital member of our community. The key to success with restorative practices is building connections and facilitating a restorative culture before issues arise.”

Hafer also works to engage students by helping them find real world connections to their learning. One of his favorite moments of teaching in the last 11 years occurred last year when one of his student engineering teams traveled to the Appoquinimink School District Office to present the team’s design ideas for a new warehouse and parking lot to district stakeholders, alongside their mentors from Landmark Engineering.

Throughout the preceding semester, the Landmark engineers had come into their classroom several times to help students learn new civil engineering programs and provide feedback on the students’ design process.

“Seeing students take their work outside of the classroom and engage adults in a professional setting was powerful,” Hafer said. “Learning doesn’t have to happen within the walls of a classroom and learning doesn’t have to be theoretical. Students can solve actual real-world problems!”

As a mentor for the Middletown High School engineering program, WL Gore & Associates executive Shawn Daly has worked with Hafer for the past three years.

“I have seen how Mr. Hafer creates a welcoming and inclusive learning environment that encourages students to take risks and develop their skills,” Daly wrote in a letter recommending Hafer for the state honor. “Mr. Hafer actively seeks feedback and collaborates with mentors to continuously improve his teaching practice and bring innovation to the overall program. He uses a variety of teaching strategies and technologies to engage students and differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all learners. His dedication to staying current by aligning the latest teaching practices with external business and industry best practices research is commendable and has provided a valuable and deliberate connection between the school, industry and the local community.”

Hafer graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in molecular, cellular and developmental biology before earning his Master of Arts in biology teaching from Columbia University’s Teachers College. He taught at schools in New York, Massachusetts and Michigan before joining the Middletown High School faculty in 2019.

Hafer inherits from outgoing State Teacher of the Year Ashley Lockwood the responsibility of representing all teachers in Delaware. He will address community groups, business leaders, legislators, and educational organizations to inform the public about the status of Delaware schools. He also will become Delaware’s candidate in the National Teacher of the Year Program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers sponsored by the Voya Foundation.

By action of the General Assembly, he will receive a $5,000 grant to use for the educational benefit of his students, as well as two personal grants totaling an additional $5,000. The remaining 19 school district/charter honorees each will receive a personal grant of $2,000. All 20 teachers also received gifts from Advantech Incorporated and their district superintendents or the Delaware Charter Network.

Hafer also received gifts from the Office of U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, the Delaware School Boards Association, Delaware State Education Association and Delaware State Teachers of the Year Association; State of Delaware Teacher of the Year commemorative plates from the Division of Motor Vehicles; a full doctorate program from University of Delaware and Wilmington University; and a 10-karat gold ring from Jostens.

This year’s celebration was sponsored by Voya Financial.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Those interested in arranging interviews with Hafer on Wednesday should contact Appoquinimink School District public information officer Danielle Pro Hudson (Danielle.ProHudson@appo.k12.de.us).

Watch the virtual celebration and announcement online here.

Find information on and photos of all 20 honorees here.

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