Delaware Child Care Professional Bonus Registry Now Open

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


Great Oaks Charter School Placed on Formal Review

Due to enrollment concerns, Secretary of Education Mark Holodick has placed Great Oaks Charter School in Wilmington on formal review. Formal review is an investigatory process that will allow the Charter School Accountability Committee (CSAC) to determine whether the school has violated terms of its charter.  

 

The school’s current enrollment is 236 students, which is 73 percent of its authorized enrollment of 325 students. Great Oaks, located in the Community Education Building at 1200 North French Street in Wilmington, serves students in grades 8 to 12.

 

This matter will be referred to CSAC for review and recommendations. A timeline and more information about the formal review process is posted online here.

 

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


Postponed: Schools to Recruit Educators at Saturday’s DSU Football Game

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


2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year to be Named Next Month

Twenty of the state’s top teachers will be honored at a celebration on Oct. 11, when one of them will be named Delaware’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

 

The candidates were nominated by their districts or the Delaware Charter Network during the 2022 calendar year because of their superior ability to inspire students with a love of learning, exemplary demonstration of professional traits and strong sense of dedication and devotion to teaching.

 

Each nominee submitted a detailed application exemplifying his or her teaching philosophy. Five Delaware Department of Education staff members independently evaluate each application. A former Delaware Teacher of the Year and department staff member observe each candidate in the classroom. Taking into consideration the ratings from the application review and observations as well as a recorded presentation by the nominees, another independent panel of non-department judges then selects the one teacher who will serve as the 2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year.

 

The teacher chosen to become the State Teacher of the Year will become Delaware’s nominee in the national program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.

 

By action of the General Assembly, the Delaware Teacher of the Year will receive a $5,000 grant to use for the educational benefit of his or her students, as well as a personal grant of $3,000.  Additionally, all nominees will receive a $2,000 grant from the state.

The celebration begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by a 6 p.m. dinner at Modern Maturity Center in Dover. The announcement comes at the end of the night. Information about live-streaming will be shared next month. Funding for the award ceremony is provided by a grant from Voya Financial and support from the Delaware General Assembly.

 

The 2023 District/Charter Teachers of the Year are:

 

Appoquinimink: Elizabeth Kelly Koch of Redding Middle (American sign language)

Brandywine: Uchechi Amudipe of Concord High (career and technical education)

Caesar Rodney: Missy Snyder of Welch Elementary (second grade)

Cape Henlopen: Rony Flechier of Cape Henlopen High (mathematics)

Capital: Amy Bowen of North Dover Elementary (fourth grade)

Charter Network: Daniel Primiani of Academia Antonia Alonso (social studies)

Christina: Jennifer Cohen of the Brennen School (special education)

Colonial: Beth Twardus of McCullough Middle (mathematics)

Delmar: Mary Pierce-Cass of Delmar High (science)

Indian River: Jennah Truitt of Lord Baltimore Elementary (kindergarten)

Lake Forest: Lindsey Saxton of Lake Forest High (agricultural science)

Laurel: Erin Razzano of Laurel Middle (English language arts)

Milford:  Ashley Lockwood of Lulu Ross Elementary (fifth grade)

New Castle County Vo-Tech: Greta K. Humphrey of Delcastle Technical High (special education)

POLYTECH: Amanda Waggoner of POLYTECH High (Spanish)

Red Clay Consolidated: Terri T. Pruitt of Cab Calloway School of the Arts (English language arts)

Seaford: Kiara Briggs of Blades Elementary (kindergarten)

Smyrna: Lindsey Alexitch of Smyrna High (social studies)

Sussex Tech: Matthew Lewis of Sussex Technical High (social studies)

Woodbridge: Sarah Burress of Phillis Wheatley Elementary (fourth grade)

Find photographs of the honorees here.

 

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


Back to School…It’s Go Time

By Delaware Education Secretary Mark A. Holodick, Ed.D.


As we begin the start of another school year, I would like to thank each of you for your hard work and resilience, especially these past few years. During my time as principal and superintendent in Delaware schools, I would start each school year with colleagues by saying, “It’s go time.” This meant that all the summer preparation, planning and work was about to pay off, and we were ready for staff and students to return. An air of excitement and wonder would fill the halls, the buildings were prepared, and goals had been developed. Seeing students enter their first day filled with curiosity and excitement always reminded us why we worked so hard, and why we all do our best every day to help ensure successful school days are filled with effective learning and good memories.

 

As schools re-open this fall for the 2022-23 school year – and for the first time since Fall 2019 – our schools will look and feel more “normal” to our students, families, and educators. For many of us, that comes with great relief. We are no longer stressing about the number of feet between desks, helping students with proper mask-wearing etiquette, or balancing remote and in-person learning schedules. Exposures no longer mandate quarantines, and our school nurses are not tasked with extensive contact tracing.

 

Yet, as we begin to distance ourselves from the COVID-19 pandemic, we must continue to take care of each other and prioritize community need over personal convenience.  This school year, students, schools, families, and local communities will have greater autonomy and flexibility in decision-making around their health and safety. The most recent COVID-19 guidance issued by the Delaware Department of Education and Delaware Division of Public Health, which is in line with that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, relies on all of us to self-monitor. That’s why it is imperative that we embrace the “greater good” philosophy.

 

Being more mindful of our community includes getting vaccinated. All Delawareans ages six months and older are eligible. Getting boosted. Staying home and getting tested if you feel sick. Quarantining yourself if you are positive and notifying your close contacts so they can test, too. Finally, if you are exposed to COVID-19, please continue to wear a mask.

 

Students, educators, families, and policy-makers agree that we need to keep our schools open for in-person learning. We need our students and educators to be able to focus on learning. We have ground to gain following the pandemic, and recovery cannot happen overnight. Our children and school staff need this time together to focus on unfinished learning as well as accelerate learning.

 

The bottom line: We must continue to protect one another. We must continue to care for one another. We must continue to prioritize the protection of our school communities, as you have so wonderfully done these past few years. Our communities, especially our most medically vulnerable members, need to remain safe.

 

We can do this. It just takes us continuing to work together for the greater good. Have a great start to a wonderful school year and please know how much I appreciate you.

 

It’s go time.