May 27, 2026

Woodbridge school counselor named 2026 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year

Woodbridge School District counselor Taylor Richey named the 2026 State Behavioral Health Professional of the Year at a recent event in Dover. Find more photos here and here. 

Taylor Richey, a school counselor from the Woodbridge School District, is the state’s 2026 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.

Secretary of Education Cindy Marten made the announcement at a statewide banquet this month honoring the district and charter network behavioral health professionals of the year.

The Woodbridge Early Childhood Education Center counselor said creating a consistent, welcoming and loving environment is essential to building relationships with students. She reflected on her work with a student who eloped, received frequent disciplinary referrals for fighting, was socially withdrawn and was failing academically. After consistent school counseling support, the student began engaging positively with staff and peers and attained honor roll status.

“Not only was this student’s growth shown through increased academics, stronger peer connections, decreased behavior and improved emotional regulations, his story also shaped my practice and demonstrated the power of connection, relationships, and meeting students where they are,” Richey said. “The work I did with this student is a testament to the positive impact of counseling services, enabled me to see the importance of creating an inclusive, safe and loving environment for all students, and empowered me to use more preventative practices in the early childhood setting.”

Her principal, Dane Sears, said Richey approaches her role with a servant’s heart and unwavering commitment to students.

“What makes Taylor’s work especially meaningful is her deep personal connection to our school community,” Sears said. “A Blue Raider at heart, Taylor returned home to serve as a counselor in the same district and school she once attended as a student. She walks the same hallways, now as a trusted advocate and mentor, determined to give back to the place that helped shape her. This connection fuels her passion and strengthens her ability to relate to students and families with authenticity and empathy.”

Video showcases 2026 behavioral health honorees

Check out the 2026 Behavioral Health Professional of the Year honorees from each Delaware school district as well as the Delaware Charter School Network.

New national report shows Delaware making recovery gains

Education Scorecard ranks Delaware 4th in math recovery and 14th in reading recovery while state leaders emphasize urgency around literacy and long-term student outcomes

The new national Education Scorecard report shows Delaware students are making important academic recovery gains, with the state ranking 4th out of 38 states in math growth and 14th out of 35 states in reading recovery between 2022 and 2025.

The report also shows chronic absenteeism in Delaware has declined sharply, falling from 24.7 percent in 2022 to 16.6 percent in 2025, though rates remain slightly above pre-pandemic levels. Delaware students remain below 2019 achievement levels in both reading and math, reinforcing the urgency of continued implementation of the state’s Strategic Plan and Early Literacy Plan.

State leaders said the findings are an encouraging external proof point, while emphasizing that Delaware students remain below 2019 achievement levels and that continued, disciplined implementation is critical.

“This report shows real movement, but Delaware still has substantial work ahead,” Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said. “This is good news with a clear warning label. Delaware students are still working to recover from the academic disruption of the pandemic, especially in reading. That is exactly why Delaware has a strategic plan, why we are focused on early literacy, and why implementation, accountability, and support for districts must remain our priority.”

According to the Education Scorecard, Delaware students have gained ground in math since 2022, with the average student performing 0.42 grade equivalents above 2022 levels. However, Delaware students remain 0.83 grade equivalents below 2019 levels in math. In reading, Delaware students remain 0.8 grade equivalents below 2019 levels, reinforcing the need for sustained focus on evidence-based literacy instruction, attendance, and district-level implementation.

The Education Scorecard – a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University, the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, and faculty at Dartmouth College – combines state test results for roughly 35 million students in grades 3 through 8 with national assessment data to examine academic recovery across states and districts.

Video: Delaware TOY shares literacy strategies

Learn more about Dr. Jenna DiEleuterio, reading specialist at Talley Middle School in the Brandywine School District and Delaware's 2026 Teacher of the Year.

As Delaware's Teacher of the Year and nominee for National Teacher of the Year, Dr. DiEleuterio serves as an ambassador for educators across the state. Through her work, literacy becomes more than academic instruction. It becomes a way for students to build confidence, strengthen connections, and see themselves as learners.

Known by students and colleagues as "Dr. D," she believes strong relationships are at the center of student success. She helps students build confidence, strengthen literacy skills, and develop meaningful connections to learning.

Dr. DiEleuterio focuses on meeting students where they are and creating learning experiences that challenge, support, and engage them. Her work reflects Delaware's strategic plan and its focus on great teaching and learning, ensuring every student has access to strong instruction, meaningful support, and opportunities to grow.

Memorial scholarship awardees Atlee Yetter from Red Clay Consolidated School District (left) and Kwamboka Boera Neema Kiage of Appoquinimink School District (right). 

Congratulations to this year's memorial scholarship awardees! Memorial scholarships are competitive scholarships awarded by the Delaware Department of Education to students for academic achievement, leadership, school involvement, and service to their communities. 

Atlee Yetter of Conrad Schools of Science in the Red Clay Consolidated School District has been named the recipient of the 2026-2027 B. Bradford Barnes Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded in honor of former Speaker of the Delaware House of Representatives B. Bradford Barnes. Atlee will receive a full-ride scholarship to the University of Delaware, covering tuition, fees, room, board, and books for up to four years of undergraduate study.

Atlee plans to study Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology in the University of Delaware Honors College. She said she was drawn to the program because of its coursework, internship opportunities, research opportunities, and accelerated 4+1 bachelor's and master's pathway. Her interest in the field grew through her biotechnology pathway experience in high school, and she looks forward to exploring different areas of biotechnology as she considers future career opportunities.

Her advice for future students: "Take every opportunity you are given. Go to the meeting, attend the event, and try something new. You never know where one opportunity might lead or who you might meet."

Kwamboka Boera Neema Kiage of Middletown High School in the Appoquinimink School District has been named the recipient of the 2026-2027 Herman M. Holloway, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, which honors Delaware's first African American State Senator. Kwamboka will receive a full-ride scholarship to Delaware State University, covering tuition, fees, room, board, and books for up to four years of undergraduate study.

A student with a 4.0 GPA and involvement in multiple clubs and sports, Kwamboka said one of her proudest moments came during her freshman year after passing her first Advanced Placement exam. She described the experience as a turning point that showed her what persistence and determination could accomplish.

Kwamboka plans to major in Political Science at Delaware State University as she works toward her goal of becoming a lawyer. She said she looks forward to learning more about government and policy and understanding how legal systems shape communities and people's lives.

"Always push past your limits," Kwamboka said. "Keep challenging yourself to grow because success comes from continuing to reach for more."

The Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship, in honor of the former Speaker of the State House of Representatives, is an annual $1,250 merit scholarship acknowledging outstanding academic achievement. This year, the scholarship has been awarded to 31 students. Recipients will be attending full-time undergraduate studies at both in-state and out-of-state schools.

Memorial scholarships are renewable for up to three additional years. Students can apply for the scholarships during their senior year of high school. 

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov