A middle school reading specialist from the Brandywine School District is Delaware’s 2026 State Teacher of the Year.

Jenna DiEleuterio of Talley Middle School now is Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Secretary of Education Cindy Marten made the announcement tonight during a Dover ceremony to honor the 20 district/charter teachers of the year.

DiEleuterio, in her 15th year of teaching, aims to help middle schoolers develop a positive relationship with literacy by providing meaningful learning experiences that promote deep thinking, build knowledge and equip students to succeed in life. She said educators must make time to connect with students and build systems of support among colleagues to meet students’ non-academic needs so the students can engage in higher-level learning. She told the story of how slowing down to understand the why behind one student’s behavior issues in her class helped her better support him.

“My understanding of his need and motivation helped frame my interactions with him so that by the end of the year, he far exceeded his reading goal and even made time to give me a hug before literally scooting off for summer break,” she said.

DiEleuterio is dedicated to fostering collaboration beyond her classroom. As the facilitator and pioneer of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) team at Talley and across all Brandywine secondary schools, she assembled and led teams of staff in analyzing student data, evaluating interventions and overcoming scheduling challenges to make sure students receive instruction tailored to their needs, Brandywine Supervisor of Special Education Katherine Siegel said.

“By leveraging additional data and progress monitoring systems, Dr. DiEleuterio has implemented highly targeted interventions not only in her classroom but across all intervention groups in the building,” Siegel said. “She personally collects data when needed and provides instructional materials and professional development sessions to staff implementing interventions.”

The mother of a former student, Katie Spangler, said DiEleuterio also collaborates with families, even long after the students leave her classroom, sharing stories about how DiEleuterio supported her son and later his sister even when they weren’t her students.

“Dr. D is an exceptional individual who genuinely engages with and attends to teach student and parent she meets,” Spangler said.

DiEleuterio earned her Bachelor of Science in elementary and special education from Elizabethtown College before graduating from Wilmington University with a Master of Education in reading and Doctor of Education in teacher leadership.

She inherits from outgoing State Teacher of the Year Shelby Borst the responsibility of representing all teachers in Delaware. She will address community groups, business leaders, legislators, and educational organizations to inform the public about the status of Delaware schools. She 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, she will receive a $5,000 grant to use for the educational benefit of her 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 Wilmington University, Advantech Incorporated and their district superintendents or the Delaware Charter Network.

DiEleuterio also received gifts from 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 DiEleuterio on Wednesday should contact Brandywine School District’s public information officer at William.OHanlon@bsd.k12.de.us.

Watch the virtual celebration and announcement online here.

Find information on and photos of all 20 honorees here.

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

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