Lake Forest Paraprofessional Named Delaware 2023 Educational Support Professional of the Year

A paraprofessional from Lake Forest School District’s Lake Forest Central Elementary School is the state’s 2023 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year. 

Heather Hitchens supports students with disabilities within their small classroom and inclusion settings. 

“I ensure students with disabilities participate to the best of their ability, whether that be maneuvering their wheelchair to score a goal or learning a picture communication system to vocalize their needs,” Hitchens said in her application. “I strive to embody the least dangerous assumption to guide students to succeed. The needs of my population vary daily, and I am a crucial part of figuring out what they need. 

“Students must trust me so that I can challenge them while embracing their strengths, and they know that, no matter their abilities, I accept them,” she said. 

Hitchens, who has 13 years of experience as an educational support professional, oversees the Special Olympics program for her entire district. In addition, she organizes inclusion events throughout the school year to bring awareness, acceptance and unity of those with special needs, such as Spread the Word to End the Word campaigns and bocce ball and soccer unified tournaments. She also participates in community events supporting those with special needs and volunteers at state unified tournaments. 

“Mrs. Hitchens is an extremely valuable asset, and her support is felt beyond the walls of her classroom to the Lake Forest Community at-large. Her commitment, dedication and work ethic are unparalleled,” Amy Calhoun, a special education teacher at Lake Forest Central, wrote in a letter of support. 

Jon Buzby, senior director of Special Olympics Delaware’s Unified Champion Schools program, agreed: “Heather’s leadership skills and her ability to use those traits to excite her colleagues and staff to go above and beyond to help her make a difference in her building and other schools in the district are second to none.” 

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick made the announcement tonight during a statewide celebration to honor the 2023 cohort of district/charter educational support professionals of the year. They were chosen to represent their districts or the Delaware Charter School Network in the state’s Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year Program. 

The Delaware State Educational Support Professional of the Year program recognizes outstanding service by school employees who provide direct or indirect services to students and their families. The Delaware Charter School Network also is invited to participate. Employees considered for the award include: 

  • Paraprofessionals 
  • Custodial staff 
  • Secretaries 
  • Nutritional staff 
  • School- and district-employed bus drivers 
  • School- and district-employed bus aides 
  • Information technology staff 

  

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

A selection committee reviewed the local winners’ state applications to select the 2023 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year. This year’s selection committee members were: Susan Bunting (retired Secretary of Education), Chaneya Edwards (Delaware Department of Education field agent, School Support Services), Candice Fifer (member, State Board of Education), Susan Haberstroh (retired DOE director, School Support Services), Stephanie Ingram (president, Delaware State Education Association), and David Thomas (2022 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year). 

DDOE is excited to recognize Hitchens and all of the outstanding professionals whose work is vital to students’ success. The 2023 cohort includes: 

  • Appoquinimink: Claudine Strawbridge, paraprofessional, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
  • Brandywine: Meg Brown, senior secretary/registrar, Concord High School
  • Caesar Rodney: Jossette Threatts, service/instructional paraprofessional, George Welch Elementary School
  • Cape Henlopen: Brittany Hoeller, paraprofessional, Lewes Elementary School
  • Capital: David Hom*, operations technician, Office of Technology
  • Charter Network: Eric Winston, nutrition coordinator/facilities manager/assistant athletic director, Early College School @ DSU
  • Christina: Matthew Stearn, paraprofessional, Networks School for Employability Skills
  • Colonial: Joseph Davis, custodian, John G. Leach School
  • Delmar: Michelle Niblett, paraprofessional, Delmar Middle and High schools
  • Indian River: Arleth Avalos, paraprofessional, Indian River School District Early Learning Center
  • Lake Forest: Heather Hitchens, paraprofessional, Lake Forest Central Elementary School
  • Laurel: Ashley Pugh, secretary, Laurel High School
  • Milford: Lisa McQueen, paraprofessional/behavior interventionist, Lulu Ross Elementary School
  • New Castle County Vo-Tech: Michele Marra, administrative assistant to the superintendent, District Office
  • POLYTECH: Jodine Cybulski*, paraprofessional, POLYTECH High School
  • Red Clay Consolidated: Clare Lawrence, chief custodian, McKean High School
  • Seaford: Daniel Hopkins, chief custodian, West Seaford Elementary School
  • Smyrna: Pamela Hilliard, paraprofessional/behavior interventionist, Sunnyside Elementary School
  • Sussex Tech: Kim Speicher, administrative assistant to the superintendent, District Office
  • Woodbridge: Ricki L. Truitt, student services/guidance secretary, Woodbridge High School

  

 *Has left district employment; not participating in state program 

  

Find photos of the nominees and learn more about the program here. 

 

 

District/Charter Educational Support Professionals of the Year Celebrated; One to be Named State Honoree

The Delaware Department of Education is honoring 20 educational support professionals for their outstanding work supporting their students and school communities.

 

“Educational support professionals are vital to the success of our schools. Their work often is behind the scenes and rarely gets the recognition it deserves. I’m honored to have the opportunity to celebrate these outstanding employees and spotlight the important roles they and the colleagues they represent play supporting our school communities,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said.

 

Now in its third year, the Delaware State Educational Support Professional of the Year (ESPOY) program recognizes outstanding service by school employees who provide direct or indirect services to students and their families. The Delaware Charter School Network also is invited to participate. Employees considered for the award include:

  • Paraprofessionals
  • Custodial staff
  • Secretaries
  • Nutritional staff
  • Information technology staff
  • School- and district-employed bus drivers
  • School- and district-employed bus aides

 

From those nominated at a building level, one educational support professional of the year moves forward to represent each district or the charter school community in the state program. Each district/charter network winner receives a $2,000 personal award from the winner’s district or charter school. The state program then chooses one person annually to serve as Delaware’s Educational Support Professional of the Year. State winners receive an additional $3,000 personal award from DDOE as well as $5,000 to be used for the educational benefit of his or her students.

 

The 2023 state winner will take over the title from 2022 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year David Thomas, computer lab/technology paraprofessional at Lake Forest East Elementary School in the Lake Forest School District.

 

A selection committee made up of DOE and non-DOE judges is reviewing the local winners’ state applications, and the state honoree will be announced at Delaware’s first ever statewide ESPOY celebration the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 7 in Dover. The event will be live-streamed to DOE’s YouTube and facebook accounts following the dinner portion of the evening; likely this will begin shortly after 7 p.m.

 

DOE is excited to recognize these outstanding professionals whose work is vital to students’ success.

 

The 20 2023 honorees are:

 

  • Appoquinimink: Claudine Strawbridge, paraprofessional, Cantwell’s Bridge Middle School
  • Brandywine: Meg Brown, senior secretary/registrar, Concord High School
  • Caesar Rodney: Jossette Threatts, service/instructional paraprofessional, George Welch Elementary School
  • Cape Henlopen: Brittany Hoeller, paraprofessional, Lewes Elementary School
  • Capital: David Hom*, operations technician, Office of Technology
  • Charter Network: Eric Winston, nutrition coordinator/facilities manager/assistant athletic director, Early College School @ DSU
  • Christina: Matthew Stearn, paraprofessional, Networks School for Employability Skills
  • Colonial: Joseph Davis, custodian, John G. Leach School
  • Delmar: Michelle Niblett, paraprofessional, Delmar Middle and High schools
  • Indian River: Arleth Avalos, paraprofessional, Indian River School District Early Learning Center
  • Lake Forest: Heather Hitchens, paraprofessional, Lake Forest Central Elementary School
  • Laurel: Ashley Pugh, secretary, Laurel High School
  • Milford: Lisa McQueen, paraprofessional/behavior interventionist, Lulu Ross Elementary School
  • New Castle County Vo-Tech: Michele Marra, administrative assistant to the superintendent, District Office
  • POLYTECH: Jodine Cybulski*, paraprofessional, POLYTECH High School
  • Red Clay Consolidated: Clare Lawrence, chief custodian, McKean High School
  • Seaford: Daniel Hopkins, chief custodian, West Seaford Elementary School
  • Smyrna: Pamela Hilliard, paraprofessional/behavior interventionist, Sunnyside Elementary School
  • Sussex Tech: Kim Speicher, administrative assistant to the superintendent, District Office
  • Woodbridge: Ricki L. Truitt, student services/guidance secretary, Woodbridge High School

 

 *Has left district employment; not participating in state program

 

Find photos of the nominees and learn more about the program here.

 

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

2020 district/charter Teachers of the Year named

Twenty Delaware teachers are finalists to be named Delaware’s 2020 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 2019 Delaware Teacher of the Year Dana Bowe, a special education teacher at West Seaford Elementary in the Seaford School District.

The 2020 District/Charter Teachers of the Year are:

District/Charters       Name                                     School                                   Content area

Appoquinimink           Stephen Landry                   Appoquinimink High             Mathematics

Brandywine               Lauren Conrad                     Concord High                       Music (vocal)

Caesar Rodney         Sabra Collins                        Caesar Rodney High          Physical education

Cape Henlopen          Brennan Clarke                    Shields Elementary             English as a second language

Capital                       Erica Richard                        East Dover Elementary       K-4 mathematics specialist

Charters                     Kayla Sweet                          Kuumba Academy               6th grade mathematics

Christina                    Lindsey Muldoon                 Shue Medill Middle              8th grade English language arts

Colonial                     Rebecca Vitelli                     Colwyck Center                    Prekindergarten

Delmar                       Donna Huston                      Delmar High                         English language arts

Indian River              Arthur Henry                         Millsboro Middle                   Music (band)

Lake Forest               Christina Hughes-Gallo      Lake Forest High                 Social studies

Laurel                         Donna Sava                          Laurel Elementary               1st grade

Milford                        Jaime Hill                              Morris Elementary               Kindergarten

NCCVT                      Anthony Webb                     Delcastle High                      Mathematics

POLYTECH              Nick Post                               POLYTECH High                 Electrical trades technology

Red Clay                   Richard Weaver                   AI duPont High                    Music (band)

Seaford                      Laura Burke                          Central Elementary              3rd grade

Smyrna                      Denise Balcerak                   Sunnyside Elementary       Kindergarten

Sussex Tech             Dontez Collins                      Sussex Tech High               Mathematics

Woodbridge              Stephanie Vodvarka            Wheatley Elementary          4th grade

 

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

Seaford educator named Delaware’s 2019 Teacher of the Year

Dana Bowe becomes Delaware’s nominee in national competition

An elementary special education teacher from the Seaford School District is Delaware’s 2019 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.

Dana Bowe, who teaches kindergarten through second grade for the Sussex County Orthopedic Program at West Seaford Elementary School, now is Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year, a title she hopes will allow her to share her message about all children’s abilities.

One in six children in the United States has a developmental disability, ranging from speech or language impairments to intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy or autism.

“But all of these children have capabilities. Their value and worth are beyond measure. Each student has a different story, different journey, and different abilities,” Bowe said.

After the Sussex Orthopedic Program moved to West Seaford Elementary School, Bowe helped start a “Spread the Word-Respect” campaign at her school, part of a national effort to discourage the use of the derogatory word “retard” and to promote acceptance, compassion, understanding, and inclusion of people with disabilities. This was important for the culture of the school, where some students had not before seen children walking in orthopedic braces, communicating with speech generated devices, or using assistive technologies, she said.

“Sometimes it is difficult to see the initial impact of an initiative. Other times, although it is not blatantly obvious, there is a quiet victory: Students holding hands walking down the hallway; a child in a wheelchair tutoring other children in class; or a regular education student asking a child to be his partner even though they can communicate only through gestures, signs, or the use of a ‘talker,’ ” Bowe said.

Bowe said she also had the chance to witness “a big, loud victory.

“One of my students with Trisomy 18 ran into the middle of a heated basketball game against many of the boys who were much larger and tougher,” Bowe said. “She put her arms up to catch a rebound and was pushed aside by some of the bigger boys. The leader of the group, CJ, shouted, ‘Pass her to ball. She is in the game.’ They did. She didn’t make the shot, not even close. But she was open, and the boys kept her in the game. CJ stood up for her and changed lives that day; not just for my little basketball player but for many students. He became a leader by modeling acceptance and respect of others.”

Bowe, who has been teaching for 17 years including five in her current position, shared stories in her application about students who made significant progress in her class.

“Children with special needs are capable of love, friendship, and academic achievement. We must encourage true inclusion with acceptance and kindness. We must see our children without labels and limitations,” she said. “We must discover the greatness that is already inside them and share their greatness with others. We must teach all students.”

Bowe can be so effective because she also builds strong relationships with her students’ families.

Sometimes that means efforts that go beyond the work day – delivering a forgotten tooth that fell out at lunch to a child’s rural home so the Tooth Fairy can visit that night or sitting in the dunk tank at a local carnival to raise money for a student’s drug trial.

“We are partners,” Bowe said. “We become so close through text messages, phone calls, and home visits.”

Joni Smith, whose son is now in his third year in Bowe’s class, said Bowe cares about all her students and finds ways to engage each of them as well as their families in their learning.

“Mrs. Bowe always includes us in his progress and his struggles and is always right on board to help in any way,” Smith said. “She always makes us feel like family and friends — we are a team to work together to help our child progress.”

Bowe earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in special education from Wilmington University. She also was named the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware 2017 Teacher of the Year.

Bowe inherits from outgoing Teacher of the Year Jinni Forcucci 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. All 20 teachers also receive a gift from Advantech Incorporated.

Bowe also will receive: a $1,000 grant for educational/classroom use from American Institutes for Research; grants from the Delaware Association of School Administrators, 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; a full doctorate program from University of Delaware and 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 School Boards Association and Educators Rising.

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

 

Find last night’s press release here.

Find photos from last night’s celebration here.

Find the video presentation on all 20 teachers shared last night here.

Find the classroom photos of all 20 nominees shared last night as well as portrait shots of each teacher here.

For media interviews with Dana Bowe, please contact Duncan.Smith@seaford.k12.de.us.

 

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