September 2026

A new year. A new look. The same focus on learning, leadership, and growth.

Welcome back to the Learning Leader Digest! As we begin a new school year, the Digest will continue to provide practical learning, tools, resources, and opportunities to support your work. This year, we’ll also make stronger connections between that work and the priorities of the Delaware Department of Education’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.

Throughout each issue, we'll return to the Strategic Plan's promise — Start with Students. Build for Impact — and make visible how our work in educator growth, instructional leadership, and great teaching and learning helps bring that promise to life.

In each issue, you'll find: Our Strategic Connection • Spotlight • The Learning • 30-Day Challenge • Professional Learning Opportunities • Resources

The Learning Leader Digest brings the Strategic Plan into practice by highlighting how educator evaluation and development can strengthen leadership, improve instruction, and support student success. The connection framework below illustrates how our educator evaluation systems align with key Strategic Plan building blocks and the priorities they help advance. Throughout each issue, we’ll return to these connections as we explore learning, tools, and actions that move the Strategic Plan into practice.

This month, we recognize Amanda Howard of Indian River School District and Taylor Morris of Caesar Rodney School District for taking an exciting step in expanding professional learning capacity across Delaware.

In June, Amanda and Taylor participated in three days of professional learning with Research for Better Teaching, completing the first phase of coursework toward becoming official trainers for the Studying Skillful Teaching course. Their learning will continue throughout this year as they deepen their knowledge and develop the skills needed to facilitate the course for others.

Their investment goes beyond their own professional learning. As Amanda and Taylor continue this journey, they are helping build Delaware’s capacity to provide high-quality professional learning that strengthens instructional practice and supports educator growth. Their work directly advances Building Block 3: Great Teaching and Learning and the priority of Improved Student Achievement by expanding professional learning that strengthens instruction across subjects.

Know an educator doing great work? Nominate them to be spotlighted in a future issue by completing this nomination form. 

From Feedback to Action: Make the Next Step Count

Last year, the quality of action steps showed meaningful improvement. In a random review of 459 observation reports, 49% of action steps were proficient—up 29 percentage points from 2024–25. At the same time, only 22% were measurable and time-bound, pointing to an important opportunity as we begin a new evaluation cycle.

What Does This Look Like in Practice?

Instead of: Consider providing students with opportunities to discuss their thinking.

Try: During the next two weeks, use a structured discussion protocol at least twice per week that requires all students to explain their reasoning and respond to a peer. After each discussion, use a quick check for understanding to determine whether students can independently explain the targeted concept.

Want to see more? Explore high-quality action-step examples across all nine DTGSS indicators. 

Make the Next Step Count

For the next 30 days, use the Action Step Criteria when developing feedback. Identify the highest-leverage change in practice, write one clear action step, and return to it during follow-up to look for evidence of implementation and impact.

Strategic Plan Connection

By taking this challenge, you are advancing Building Block 2: Safe, Supportive Schools and the priority of Instructional Leadership by strengthening coaching and ongoing improvement. You are also supporting Building Block 3: Great Teaching and Learning and the priority of Improved Student Achievement by focusing feedback on high-quality teaching and stronger instruction.