Smyrna Elementary School and West Seaford Elementary School are among a host of U.S. schools that have been named a 2023 National ESEA Distinguished Schools for the extraordinary success of their students. The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), formerly the National Title I Association, has been selecting examples of superior, federally funded school programs for national recognition through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools program (formerly the National Title I Distinguished Schools program) since 1996.

Smyrna Elementary School, in the Smyrna School District, is being recognized as a National ESEA Distinguished School for Closing the Achievement Gap between student groups, and the academic progress that the students made during the 2022-2023 school year on standardized achievement tests.  Cynthia McNatt is the school’s principal.

West Seaford Elementary School, in the Seaford School District, is being recognized as a National ESEA Distinguished School for Excellence in Serving Special Populations, and the growth and progress towards English Language proficiency that the multilingual learners made during the 2022-2023 school year.  Laura Schneider is the school’s principal.

The 2023 National ESEA Distinguished Schools will be honored February 7-10, 2024, at the 2024 National ESEA Conference in Portland, Oregon.  More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the NAESPA website: www.ESEAnetwork.org/awards.

Sixteen Additional Schools Recognized Locally as DE Recognition Schools

Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick is pleased to commend and recognize 16 additional schools from across the state for their growth and progress in three categories.  Awards are given for Exceptional Student Performance and Growth on the state’s assessment for grades 3-8, Academic Growth and Closing the Achievement Gap between student groups on the grade 3-8 assessment, or Excellence in Serving Special Populations where multilingual learners showed exceptional growth toward meeting proficiency on ACCESS tests.

Thirteen schools that are named 2023 Recognition Schools will receive an $8,000 award, a certificate, and a banner to hang in their building.  Three schools are being recognized as Schools of Continued Excellence and will also receive a certificate and a banner. These schools also were recognized last year for their outstanding performance and are not eligible for the financial award in this consecutive year.

2023 Recognition School Award Winners for Exceptional Student Performance:

• Claymont Elementary School, Brandywine SD
  • Principal – Eryn Smith
• Lake Forest East Elementary School, Lake Forest SD
  • Principal – Jeffrey Sheehan
• Phillip C. Showell Elementary School, Indian River SD
  • Principal – Christy Kerr

2023 Recognition School Award Winners for Closing the Achievement Gap:

• Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Milford SD
  • School Leader – Chad Luzier
• Lake Forest North Elementary School, Lake Forest SD
  • Principal – Erin Dotson
• Etta J. Wilson Elementary School, Christina SD
  • Principal – Mabel Boutte

2023 Recognition School Award Winners for Excellence in Serving Special Populations:

• Brookside Elementary School, Christina SD
  • Principal – Eric Stephens
• Harry Eisenberg Elementary School, Colonial SD
  • School Leader – David Distler
• Milton Elementary School, Cape Henlopen SD
  • Principal – Clara Conn
• North Georgetown Elementary School, Indian River SD
  • Principal – Sarah Green
• Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, Woodbridge SD
  • Principal –  Zachary Huber
• Seaford Central Elementary School, Seaford SD
  • Principal – Chandra Phillips
• South Dover Elementary School, Capital SD
  • Principal –  Lenita McIntyre

2023 School of Continued Excellence:

• Blades Elementary School, Seaford SD
  • Principal – Christy Parsons
• Rehoboth Elementary School, Cape Henlopen SD
  • Principal – Doris Person
• Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center, Woodbridge SD
  • Principal – Dane Sears

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006

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