More than 180 students brought home medals from this month’s Delaware Educators Rising State Leadership Conference — with more than 80 students qualifying for the national conference this summer.

Winners in the children’s literature competitive events were awarded scholarships from University of Delaware and winners in the Educators Rising Moment, a speech event, were awarded scholarships from Wilmington University.

Rising education professionals engaged in multiple professional learning sessions hosted by University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of Delaware, and Wilmington University, as well as keynote sessions with Sinead Ronan (2024 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year), Representative Sherae’a Moore, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and Cory Hafer, 2024 Delaware Teacher of the Year.

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) partnered with University of Delaware to host the event in Newark.

Delaware Educators Rising is a career and technical student organization (CTSO) affiliated with the Delaware Teacher Academy. The organization integrates learning opportunities into existing education and training programs to prepare Delaware youth for future education careers.

Educators Rising students participate in professional and personal development events, engage in state and national educational competitions, and expand their experiences as rising educational professionals. The program is also engaged in Delaware Grow Your Own, which allows school districts and charter schools throughout the state to recruit future teachers early from within their own teacher academies.

For a list of awardees and more photos, visit Educators Rising results.

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

Delaware child care professionals now can submit to receive $700 for a second round of direct payments from the Delaware Department of Education. 

The state is using its federal American Rescue Plan funding to pay for this second round of bonuses. The aim is to show appreciation for and incentivize retention in the critical workforce of programs licensed by the Delaware Department of Education’s Office of Child Care Licensing. Currently employed professionals who are at least 18 years of age who work directly with children or provide any level of on-site administrative support for at least 20 hours per week for at least 90 days are eligible. 

“Child care professionals are critical to the learning and development of our children and their work is critical to our state’s economy, allowing the children’s family members to fill other essential roles in our workforce,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “Licensed child care programs are struggling to attract and retain professionals in today’s competitive labor market, and we are pleased we are able to provide this second payment to support the professionals committed to our youngest learners.”

The Delaware Department of Education has expanded its secure data collection system, which will be used to collect employee information and verify eligibility. A feature now included allows professionals who applied in Round 1 to save time with a pre-populated application. The application will be open for two months with all submissions due by April 30, 2023.

After being verified, licensed child care professionals can expect to receive their payments in up to 10 days if they choose direct deposit or up to 30 days if they choose to receive a check by U.S. mail.

Licensed child care professionals can find more information and apply online at de.gov/childcarebonus.

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

A fifth-grade teacher from the Milford School District is Delaware’s 2023 State Teacher of the Year.

Ashley Lockwood of LuLu Ross Elementary School now is Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. She will use her position to advocate for historically underserved populations of students.

With the mindset “We repeat what we don’t repair,” Lockwood said our school systems collect many forms of data, but educators too often don’t discuss or understand the “why” behind certain data trends.

“When we break down data by racial demographic, we see year after year that a significant number of students of color are performing below proficiency levels in both reading and math despite high attendance rates and having parental support,” Lockwood said.

Lockwood started a committee in her district to bring colleagues together in this work.

“Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of meeting and working with some of the most dedicated educators. I have learned that most of them want equitable outcomes for students of color but do not know where to begin,” she said. “In the work of educational equity, the most important point to realize is that you do not have to look like your students or have the same background in order to advocate for their needs. When I started the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee in my district, I made it clear that the committee was not going to be made up of only staff of color but of staff who teach students of color.

“We all have the responsibility to close the opportunity gap. The first step is to understand how our own biases and past experiences may show up in our classrooms. Even in our best attempts at inclusion, we must recognize implicit biases in schools do play a significant role in the outcomes of students of color,” Lockwood said. “Recognizing our own biases through professional development, committee involvement, or self-study proves we are committed to removing the barriers that have kept students of color from advancing academically, socially and emotionally.”

Governor John Carney made the announcement during a Dover ceremony to honor the 20 district/charter teachers of the year.

Lockwood said she reflects on a question a graduate school instructor asked: What will your impact be? 

“I strive to make students feel they are accepted and not an exception,” she said. “I want every teacher to think about what impact this advocacy work will have on all students. When we prioritize advocacy for students of color, we will close the opportunity gap in schools across the nation.”

Colleague Michele Davis said Lockwood leads her classroom “with compassion for all yet maintains high expectations for each diverse learner she works with. Ashley’s firm beliefs in rigor and consistency in maintaining the curriculum with fidelity is evident in the triumphs she has with her students.

“Ashley analyzes the content she teaches, ensuring that it is not only applicable, yet also equitable in the approach in which it is taught,” Davis said.

Her principal, Cynthia McKenzie, also praised Lockwood for the relationships she builds with students and their families.

“Miss Lockwood creates a great sense of community within her classroom and with her families as well; they do not hesitate to contact her with questions and/or concerns. She makes herself available at all times, and if she is not able to provide the necessary support or resources, she reaches out to those who can assist,” McKenzie said.

A nine-year classroom veteran, Lockwood earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Delaware and her Master of Education from Wilmington University.

Lockwood inherits from outgoing State Teacher of the Year Jahsha Tabron 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 candidates each will receive a personal grant of $2,000. All 20 teachers also received gifts from Advantech Incorporated and their district superintendents or charter principal.

Lockwood also received gifts from the Office of U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, the 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 Delaware State University, 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 Lockwood on Wednesday should contact Milford School District.

Watch the virtual celebration and announcement online here.

Find information on all 20 nominees here.

Due to Saturday’s weather forecast, this event is rescheduled for the 2 p.m. game on Saturday, November 12.  

Prospective educators will have the opportunity to meet with 14 districts and charter schools during a recruitment fair at Saturday’s Delaware State University football game.

The Delaware Department of Education is sponsoring the event as an opportunity to connect those interested in working in Delaware public schools with potential employers and help diversify the educator workforce in the state. The halftime show also will feature an internship partnership between Caesar Rodney High School and DSU; two former interns are working in Delaware public schools this fall.

The DSU Hornets play Robert Morris University Saturday. The game starts at 6 p.m. The recruitment fair, which will be captured by a 360-degree camera, will be located near the concession stand at Alumni Stadium. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, contact Ann.Hlabangana-Clay@doe.k12.de.us.

The following employers will be represented Saturday:

Appoquinimink School District

Brandywine School District

Caesar Rodney School District

Capital School District

Christina School District

Colonial School District

Freire Charter School

Indian River School District

Las Americas ASPIRA Academy

Laurel School District

MOT Charter School

NCCVT  School District

Providence Creek Academy

Sussex Tech School District

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

The Delaware Department of Education today released 2021 biennial reports on the state’s teacher and specialist educator preparation programs, part of a comprehensive effort to strengthen educator preparation programs in the First State. These reports were originally intended to be released in the fall of 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports were delayed by one year.

The reports provide information ranging from the diversity of programs’ candidate classes to student performance outcomes of graduates, to employment placement and retention within the state. The reports show progress on some fronts, most notably that the state’s institutes of higher education are making some progress in attracting a more diverse class of future educators.

In 2021 program reports, across all educator preparation programs in Delaware, 1 in 4 candidates identified as an individual of color. There has been a continuous increase of diverse candidates in Delaware EPPs (16% in 2016 being candidates of color, 27% in 2018, and 32% of candidates in 2020). While about 58 percent of Delaware’s student population identifies as a race other than white, only 18 percent of the educator workforce does.

“Ensuring all of Delaware’s students have equitable access to excellent educators require equipping the next generation of educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the various needs of the students they will educate,” Associate Secretary of Education Jon Neubauer said. “We must continue growing a highly skilled and diverse educator workforce.  The continued efforts made by our colleges and universities to prioritize quality preparation of educators will play a key role in providing our students with access to the very best educators.”

The program reports garner programs continued approval to operate based on data from the last five years. Programs are classified into the following categories based on their performance – Renewed, Renewed With Conditions, or Probation. Some particularly small programs are noted to be a Program Under Further Review due to extremely limited data.

The reports provide prospective students considering educator preparation programs in Delaware a resource for learning about their options while the state’s districts and charter schools have additional information on the strengths of each program.

About half of Delaware’s novice educators are prepared by Delaware preparation programs; the reports are a part of the state’s overall strategy to strengthen such programs throughout the state.

All available performance data is used to classify all programs, whether or not they generated a program report. Overall, the 2021 results show 29 programs categorized as renewed, and 13 programs renewed with conditions. Additionally, 14 programs are classified as a program under further review due to insufficient data. Programs that are renewed with conditions or placed on probation will be required to submit a plan of action for improvement to the Delaware Department of Education. Programs under further review must demonstrate the workforce need the program is meeting and additional evidence of meeting program standards. A state summary of all programs is also included in the release.

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