2019 District/Charter Teachers of the Year named

Twenty Delaware teachers are finalists to be named Delaware’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year.

Selected from among the 9,000 public school teachers in the state, the candidates were nominated by their districts or the Delaware Charter School Network because of their ability to inspire students with a love of learning, demonstration of professional traits and devotion to teaching. Already leaders among the colleagues in their buildings, each now has assumed a role representing educators in their districts or the charter network. In October, one will take over the state title from 2018 Delaware Teacher of the Year Jinni Forcucci, an English language arts teacher at Sussex Technical School District’s Sussex Technical High School.

 

The 2019 District/Charter Teachers of the Year are:

  • Appoquinimink: Sara Anderson, Cedar Lane Elementary, grade 5 inclusion
  • Brandywine: Bonnie Yurkanin, Claymont Elementary, library media
  • Caesar Rodney: Ashlee Upp, Allen Frear Elementary, grade 3
  • Cape Henlopen: Robert Harrod, Cape Henlopen High, grade 9 biology
  • Capital: Joseph Fuller, Dover High, Intensive Learning Center math/science
  • Christina: Jennifer Montanez, Etta J. Wilson Elementary, grade 5
  • Colonial: Mark McKenzie, William Penn High, Grades 11-12 chemistry
  • Delmar: Michelle Howard, Delmar High, Grades 9-12 physical science/chemistry
  • Indian River: Courtney White, North Georgetown Elementary, grade 5
  • Lake Forest: Sara Bushey, Lake Forest North Elementary, grade 3
  • Laurel: Carly Carrier, Laurel Middle, grade 6 science
  • Milford: Veronica Evans, Milford Senior High, grades 10-12 U.S. government and politics/social studies
  • New Castle County Vo-Tech: Lindsay Hoeschel, Howard High School of Technology, grade 11 English language arts
  • POLYTECH: David Watson, POLYTECH High, engineering/calculus/physics
  • Red Clay Consolidated: Lia Zucchino, Evan G. Shortlidge Academy, grade 2
  • Seaford: Dana Bowe, West Seaford Elementary, K-2 special education
  • Smyrna: Virginia Hoye, Clayton Intermediate, grade 5 English language arts/social studies
  • Sussex Tech: Anthony Natoli, Sussex Technical High, grades 9 and 11 English language arts
  • Woodbridge:  Heather Kerrick, Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center, grade 1 reading/social studies
  • Charter Network: Thomas Becker, MOT Charter High, grades 9-12 math

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


Sussex Tech teacher named Delaware’s 2018 Teacher of the Year

Virginia Forcucci becomes Delaware’s nominee in national competition

A high school English teacher from the Sussex Technical School District is Delaware’s 2018 State Teacher of the Year.

Governor John Carney made the announcement tonight at the annual banquet honoring the 20 district and charter teachers of the year at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center in Dover.

Virginia “Jinni” Forcucci became an educator because of her love of literature, but her students are the inspiration for her 20-year career.

Met with blank stares and a collective sense of disinterest on her first days in the classroom, Forcucci questioned her curricula, her strategies and her motivation for becoming a teacher, she said.

It took a challenging student to show her that the problem wasn’t her lessons — it was her approach. What she viewed as apathy in her learners was more likely insecurity, inability or misdirection, she said. Her students needed advocates, and Forcucci became their biggest.

Forcucci uses literature “to overturn perspectives, to generate critical thought and fruitful discussion, and, ultimately and inevitably in her classroom, to change lives,” Zoe James-Collins said in a letter nominating her former teacher for the state honor. “My classmates and I would often joke that her class was like church: We’d leave her sanctuary each day renewed, enlightened and inspired to be a better person … for many of us, she was the agent of change she urged us to be.”

Her colleagues see the connections she makes with students, too.

“Whether she’s laughing so hard at a clever comment from a class clown or suffering along with a student as they share their darkest moment in a piece for creative writing, Virginia Forcucci will cry. Her passion shows through tears,” Anthony Natoli, another English instructor at Sussex Tech, said in his nomination letter. “That’s what makes Virginia Forcucci special. That’s what makes her an incredible educator. That’s what makes her an incredible person.”

Forcucci said she found what best motivates learning is demanding content, freedom to explore and academic discourse. With this discovery, she redesigned her curricula, enhancing rigor and relying more on student-driven discussions. Even her most resistant learners responded.

As a teacher, Forcucci works to encourage her students to understand all sides of an argument before formulating a perspective and to seek common ground as they search for a resolution.

“We live in a climate right now where lines are often drawn in the sand. Instead of listening to one another, we’re thinking about what to say. Instead of considering the perspective of ‘the other,’ we judge or we ignore,” Forcucci said. “Sitting in a circle, my seniors debate media’s impact on race relations, the need for solitude in self-discovery, the absence of cultural literacy in our schools, and I’m inspired.”

Teachers, she said, must be good examples for their students: “We must maintain high expectations for our students, model compassion and reward exploration. My sincere hope is that when we devote ourselves to life-long learning and empathy, our students will, too.”

Forcucci inherits from outgoing Teacher of the Year Wendy Turner 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 two personal grants totaling an additional $5,000. The remaining 19 school district/charter candidates each will receive a personal grant of $2,000.

Forcucci also will receive: a $1,000 grant for educational/classroom use from American Institutes for Research; grants from the Delaware State Education Association and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce; a State of Delaware Teacher of the Year commemorative plate from the Division of Motor Vehicles; free graduate-level courses from Delaware’s higher education institutions, including a full doctorate program from Wilmington University; a gold watch from the Delaware State Teachers of the Year Association; a 10-karat gold ring from Jostens; and lunch in Washington D.C. with U.S. Sen. Tom Carper.

Other organizations that honored the newly-selected Teacher of the Year include: the Delaware Chief School Officers Association, Delaware Association of School Administrators, Delaware School Boards Association, Delaware State University, Wesley College, Educators Rising and Advantech Incorporated.

This year’s celebration was sponsored in part by Voya Financial.

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

 


Governor’s Weekly Message: Honoring Teachers for Their Role in Shaping Our Children’s Future

Wilmington, DE – In his weekly message, Governor Markell recognizes Delaware’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, Mount Pleasant Elementary’s Wendy Turner, and pays tribute to the many excellent educators across our state who are helping our children learn and prepare for success.

“We know that a major factor in student achievement is an excellent teacher, and we can’t overstate the important role our educators play in shaping our children’s future,” Governor Markell said.  “That’s why we’re supporting them in more ways through professional learning communities in schools, new teacher leadership roles, and compensation for professional development and national certification.  Delaware has many outstanding educators, and this week I was honored to announce that our 2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year is Wendy Turner, a second grade teacher at Mount Pleasant Elementary in the Brandywine School District.  I want to thank Wendy, and all of our educators who work so hard to provide our children with the knowledge and skills and opportunity to meet their full potential in life.  We appreciate all they do to keep Delaware moving forward.”
Every week, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

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Transcript of the Governor’s Weekly Message: Honoring Teachers for Their Role in Shaping Our Children’s Future


Governor’s Weekly Message: Delaware’s Teacher of the Year

DOVER –  In his weekly message, Governor Markell honors this year’s Delaware Teacher of the Year and all the great teachers who commit themselves to educating young people and helping them reach their full potential.

“Most of us had at least one teacher growing up who changed our lives who inspired us, who saw something in us, who took the time to say – ‘I see what you’re capable of and I am going to challenge you to do it,’” said the Governor. “Those are the kinds of teachers we want for our kids – teachers who not only know their subjects but can stoke in their students that fire and desire to learn.”

Each year, at this time, Delaware honors its “Teacher of the Year.” While countless teachers are worthy of the honor, each year, each district puts up one nominee that embodies a commitment to excellence. The winner is selected from that group.

This year’s Teacher of the Year is Amber Augustus, who teaches math, science and social studies teacher at J-B-M Intermediate School in Smyrna. Ms. Augustus left a corporate career where she traveled all over for one school, one classroom in Smyrna, teaching her own students the incredible places a solid education can take you.

“We are so proud of Ms. Augustus, proud to call her one of Delaware’s best. I know our teacher-of-the-year will treasure the award, and the memory of standing up and being honored in front of hundreds of her peers,” said the Governor. “I also know that our Teacher of the Year – and all the nominees – will tell you that the greatest reward for any teacher is the chance to stand up in front of a class and change a life for the better.”

About the Governor’s Weekly Message:
At noon every Friday, a new video message is posted to the Governor’s website and YouTube channel and is distributed to Delaware media outlets. Transcripts of the messages are posted and the audio version of the Governor’s message is available on iTunes as a podcast for distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers. The Governor’s weekly message is currently being carried on the air and posted on websites by various media outlets, and the direct link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbX1TrmIAVU

Constituents, media outlets and others are free to link to the Governor’s video message on YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/GovernorMarkell – or on his Facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/governormarkell – or on the Delaware State website at http://governor.delaware.gov/information/podcast_video.shtml. All are also invited to follow him on Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/governormarkell – and submit ideas through http://ideas.delaware.gov

TRANSCRIPT / TEXT OF SCRIPT: Delaware’s Teacher of the Year


Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript – Delaware’s Teacher of the Year: Amber Augustus

Most of us had at least one teacher growing up who changed our lives – who inspired us, who saw something in us, who took the time to say – “I see what you’re capable of and I am going to challenge you to do it.”

Those are the kinds of teachers we want for our kids – teachers who not only know their subjects but can stoke in their students that fire and desire to learn.

Each year, at this time, we get a reminder that Delaware’s schools are full of those kinds of great teachers.   Because each October,  Delaware honors its “Teacher of the Year.”

While there are countless teachers worthy of the honor, each year, each district puts up one nominee – a nominee that embodies a commitment to excellence, who has that magical mix of knowledge and inspiration that spurs their students to achieve.

And from that group, one teacher is chosen for the top honor.  I’ve had a chance to know a number of the past winners, and it seems like each one has those moving memories to share about teachers that most inspired them when they were young.  This year’s winner has no doubt already inspired the same stories in her own students.

It’s just one of many reasons why this year’s Teacher of the Year is Amber Augustus, who teaches math, science and social studies teacher at J-B-M Intermediate School in Smyrna.   Ms. Augustus left a corporate career where she traveled all over for one school, one classroom in Smyrna, teaching her own students the incredible places a solid education can take you.

We are so proud of her – so proud to call her one of Delaware’s best. And I know our teacher-of-the-year will treasure the award, and the memory of standing up and being honored in front of hundreds of her peers.  But I also know our Teacher of the Year – and all the nominees – will tell you that the greatest reward for any teacher is the chance to stand up in front of a class and change a life for the better. To give a group of kids each year the tools they need to build successful lives of their own.  We’re committed to helping our teachers make that happen, and honored by their commitment to keeping their students – and our great state – moving forward.