School employees who support the mental health of Delaware students are being recognized for their work.

The state will name its 2024 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year at a statewide celebration on Monday. Delaware’s districts and the Delaware Charter School Network named local Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year for 2024. Following an application and interview process, one will be named the state honoree.

“Our students arrive at school with mental health needs that can impact their readiness and ability to learn. Behavioral health professionals are critical to the success of our schools and communities, and I am grateful to these professionals for how they support our students and school communities,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.

The Delaware State Behavioral Health Professional of the Year (BHPOY) program is administered by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE). The program recognizes outstanding service by school employees who are health care practitioners or human service providers who offer services for the purpose of improving an individual’s mental health. The Delaware Charter School Network also is invited to participate. Employees considered for the award include:

• School counselors
• School social workers
• Licensed clinical social workers
• School psychologists
• School nurses

From those nominated at a local level, one behavioral health professional of the year moves forward to represent each district or the charter school community in the state program. Each district/charter network honoree receives a $2,000 personal award from the professional’s district or charter school. The state program then chooses one person annually to serve as Delaware’s Behavioral Health Professional of the Year. State honorees receive an additional $3,000 personal award from the department as well as $5,000 to be used for the educational benefit of the state honoree’s students.

The 2024 District/Charter Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year are:

• Appoquinimink School District: Laura Davis, school nurse, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
• Brandywine School District: Tania Milionis, school counselor, Talley Middle School
• Caesar Rodney School District: Charles Brooks Jr. mental health counselor, Caesar Rodney High School
• Cape Henlopen School District: Sean Laube, school psychologist, Love Creek Elementary School
• Capital School District: Jackie Collins, school counselor, Hartly Elementary School
• Christina School District: Amy Lowe, school psychologist, Gauger-Cobbs Middle School
• Colonial School District: Kahlil Fitzpatrick, school counselor, McCullough Middle School
• Delaware Charter School Network: Lori Jones, family crisis therapist, Odyssey Charter School
• Delmar School District: Kelly Phillips, school counselor, Delmar Middle School
• Indian River School District: Britney Lloyd, school nurse, North Georgetown Elementary School
• Lake Forest School District: Karla M. Jester, family interventionist, Lake Forest Central Elementary School
• Milford School District: Shannon Gronau, school counselor, Mispillion Elementary School
• New Castle County Vo-Tech School District: Shannan Beck, school counselor, Delcastle Technical High School
• POLYTECH School District: Stacy Greenly, POLYTECH High School
• Red Clay Consolidated School District: Jessica Kradjel, school psychologist, McKean High School
• Seaford School District: Victoria Pierson, school counselor, Frederick Douglass Elementary School
• Smyrna School District: Tiffany Duke, school counselor, Smyrna High School
• Sussex County Vocational Technical School District: Lisa Fitler, school nurse, Sussex Technical High School
• Woodbridge School District: Katie Sears, school counselor, Phillis Wheatley Elementary School

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) will livestream Monday’s event following the dinner portion of the night. The livestream should start around 7:10 p.m. and will be visible on DDOE’s YouTube page and shared to DDOE’s facebook page.

Find photos of the 2024 honorees online here.

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

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