Take Note eNews: From the Delaware Department of Education

Lake Forest School Counselor named 2023 BHPOY

Dana Carey was named the state's 2023 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year this month at a banquet in Dover (more pics).

A school counselor from the Lake Forest School District is the state’s 2023 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.

Dana Carey of Lake Forest North Elementary School said she makes sure her students know they are loved, cared for, and their basic needs are met.

“I have created positive relationships with my students by making meaningful connections I am a safe adult they can count on to listen to them, help them throughout their day, and be by their side when they need me,” Carey said. “I have sat by students’ sides when they have had to talk to community agencies, I have delivered food to their homes, and I have provided them with clothing and school supplies when their families were not able to do so on their own.”

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick and House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst made the surprise announcement at a statewide banquet honoring the 20 district and charter network behavioral health professionals of the year.

Carey said an initiative close to her heart has been making sure her students have food security. At the beginning of the school year she administered a school-wide assessment of students’ food needs and identified 75 students with food insecurity. She then partnered with the Food Bank of Delaware to set up a backpack site at the school. Each week as students prepare to be out of school for the weekend, the food bank provides the 75 students with two breakfast meals, two lunch meals, drinks and snacks. Carey checks in with the students every week as she delivers the food to them, and she also partners with the Felton United Methodist Church to provide families with additional food in emergencies.

In the fall she organized a school-wide food drive, collecting 1,600 non-perishable items to help stock the food pantries at the church and Lake Forest High School.

Video showcases 2023 behavioral health nominees

Check out the 2023 Behavioral Health Professional of the Year nominees from each Delaware school district as well as the Charter School Network.

Cape School District student appointed to State Board

Governor John Carney on Thursday announced that he has appointed a rising high school senior from Lewes to serve on the Delaware State Board of Education. Augustine “Gus” Musika, a Cape Henlopen High School student, will join the board for its July meeting and serve through the 2023-2024 school year.

“We need students like Gus to offer their perspective as we make decisions about education in our state,” said Governor Carney. “Gus brings unique experience to this role and I appreciate his willingness to serve.”

“The Delaware State Board of Education values student voice; we welcome Gus and look forward to hearing his perspective about public education in Delaware,” said Shawn Brittingham, President of the Delaware State Board of Education.

Gus is the proud son of an educator and is involved with numerous extracurricular activities in and out of school. He is an accomplished varsity athlete and a member of the National Honor Society. Gus is training to obtain a private pilot’s license and hopes to continue his education in the aviation field. While serving on the board, Gus plans to use his position to advocate for innovative and accelerated learning opportunities for students of all backgrounds.

In 2018, the Delaware General Assembly passed House Bill 455, which added two non-voting seats to the Delaware State Board of Education: the student seat to be held by Gus and a teacher seat, which is currently held by 2015 Delaware Teacher of the Year, Megan Szabo. Gus will be the fifth student to serve on the board since the passage of that legislation.

The board’s regular monthly meetings are open to the public, typically scheduled for the third Thursday evening of the month. The board rotates its meetings to be held in all three counties.

Smyrna S.D. educator retires after 50 years in the classroom

After 50 years in the classroom, Smyrna School District legend Barbara Wright hung up her apron for the final time this month and began her well-deserved retirement. A family and consumer science educator, Wright made an impact on an estimated 17,000 students between 1972 and 2023.

When asked what she is looking forward to most about her upcoming retirement, Wright answered:

Thank you, Mrs. Wright, for your dedication to Delaware students and the entire Smyrna S.D. community!

Read memories from former students, families and colleagues.

Delaware honors digital mapping winners

Students were recognized last week at the Delaware Department of Education in Dover. From left-to-right: (row 1) Abigail Sweet, Eric Lewis, Kaylee McDowell, Alicia Zhang, (row two) DDOE's Corey Downer, Secretary of Education Mark Holodick, Lake Forest teacher Christopher Sherman. (Not pictured: Natalie Lewis)

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick honored the Delaware winners of the Esri’s 2023 ArcGIS US School Competition last week in Dover.

High school winners: