February 28, 2024

Students win big at state Educators Rising event

More than 180 students brought home medals from this month's Delaware Educators Rising State Leadership Conference -- with more than 80 students qualifying for the national conference this summer.  

Winners in the children’s literature competitive events were awarded scholarships from University of Delaware and winners in the Educators Rising Moment, a speech event, were awarded scholarships from Wilmington University. 

Rising education professionals engaged in multiple professional learning sessions hosted by University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of Delaware, and Wilmington University, as well as keynote sessions with Sinead Ronan (2024 Delaware Educational Support Professional of the Year), Representative Sherae'a Moore, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and Cory Hafer, 2024 Delaware Teacher of the Year.  

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) partnered with University of Delaware to host the event in Newark. 

Delaware Educators Rising is a career and technical student organization (CTSO) affiliated with the Delaware Teacher Academy. The organization integrates learning opportunities into existing education and training programs to prepare Delaware youth for future education careers.

Educators Rising students participate in professional and personal development events, engage in state and national educational competitions, and expand their experiences as rising educational professionals. The program is also engaged in Delaware Grow Your Own, which allows school districts and charter schools throughout the state to recruit future teachers early from within their own teacher academies.

For a list of awardees and more photos, visit Educators Rising results. 

Quality education requires school referenda

The following guest column was written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick.

As Delaware Secretary of Education, I am entrusted with overseeing and improving educational systems throughout the state. A crucial part of this responsibility is making sure schools have the resources they need to provide a quality education to all students. In Delaware, one of the key mechanisms for securing these resources is through school referenda.

School referenda typically involve proposals for tax increases or bond issuances to support various aspects of education, such as infrastructure improvements, hiring additional staff, and expanding educational programs. Referenda are fundamental to the democratic process, allowing communities to have a direct say in the funding and operation of their local schools.

Over the next few months, six districts will have pursued or are gearing up to pursue referenda: Brandywine (Feb. 13), Red Clay Consolidated (Feb. 28), Colonial (Feb. 29), Smyrna (March 9), Cape Henlopen (March 26), and Appoquinimink (April 23).

The importance of school referenda cannot be overstated, especially in a state like Delaware, where local control over education is highly valued. Giving residents the opportunity to vote on funding measures ensures that decisions about education investments are made at the grassroots level, reflecting the priorities and values of each community.

Adequate funding is critical for providing students with access to modern facilities, technology, and resources. It allows us to attract and retain talented educators, offer a diverse array of academic and extracurricular opportunities, and support students with diverse needs. Without support garnered through school referenda, schools may be forced to make difficult decisions, such as cutting programs or deferring essential maintenance, which can have profound consequences for students, hindering their educational experiences and potentially limiting future opportunities.

Moreover, quality schools attract families to neighborhoods, driving property values and fostering economic development. They produce skilled workforces, which are essential for creating businesses and driving innovation.

Despite all the benefits, passing referenda can be a daunting task, requiring extensive community engagement and communication to overcome skepticism and opposition.

As a former teacher, school principal, district superintendent, and now Secretary of Education, I continue to believe in the importance of supporting local referenda. We must work together to strengthen our education system so we can create a brighter future for our students as well as our state.

Videos: ECIC scholarship recipients share uplifting journeys 

Meet inspiring Delaware Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) scholars in the video series below as they share uplifting journeys about advancing their careers in early education. ECIC, which is funded by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), is an initiative aimed to redesign Delaware’s early childhood education support model by improving access to advanced credentials, such as the Child Development Associate® (CDA) certificate and post-secondary associate and bachelor’s degrees. 

Through ECIC, current early learning professionals can receive technology and financial incentives for earning CDA credentials, which is the only globally recognized credential in early childhood education. The program also offers scholarships for up to 12 associate and bachelor’s degree credits at Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University, University of Delaware, Wilmington University, and University of Potomac as well as technology support, completion stipends, and more. Learn about each program here:

Videos:

Delaware celebrates Love the Bus Month

Secretary Holodick thanks bus drivers and aides at Laurel School District as part of Love the Bus Month (more pics).

Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick has been thanking bus drivers and bus aides across the state this month as part of national Love the Bus Month. 

Secretary Holodick and DDOE Transportation Education Associate Tyler Bryan had the privilege of thanking bus drivers and aides at Laurel School District, Brandywine School District (pics), Milford School District (pics) and Early College School at Delaware State University (pics).

February is National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Love the Bus month. Throughout the month, schools and families are invited to highlight the important role of the yellow school bus in their communities and show appreciation for the school bus drivers and aides who safely transport more than 25 million children to and from school every day. 

Secretary Holodick visits school bus drivers and aides each year. Many have repeatedly expressed their commitment to the profession because of their love for the children they serve. Several have been serving children in these vital roles for many years.

As part of Delaware's Love the Bus celebration, be sure to thank the school bus drivers and aides in your lives who help get our students safely to and from school each day!

Seaford S.D. receives national attention for reading success

Teachers from other states watch and learn as Seaford School District educators and students engage in the science of reading (more pics)

A team of 40 educators from across the country visited Seaford School District elementary schools earlier this month to view how the science of reading, classroom consistency, and instructional coherence are leading to improved students outcomes. 

University of Delaware connected the district with educators from California, New Mexico, New York, and Georgia. Guests were able to hear from Seaford S.D. administrators and teachers about the district’s literacy work and success with the open-source Bookworms K-5 curriculum, which has been approved for use in Seaford for its alignment to the science of reading through Delaware's alternative curriculum process. Visiting educators also spent time in classrooms learning directly from teachers.

Seaford is the only high-poverty district in Delaware whose students in 2022 finished third grade above standards on the Smarter assessment and, as fourth graders in 2023, grew more than a full academic year.

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov