April 26, 2023

Holodick honors top seniors as 2023 Secretary Scholars

Secretary of Education Mark Holodick has honored 92 public school students from the Class of 2023 as Secretary of Education Scholars.

The students, joined by their families and school leaders, were honored Monday night during a dinner in Dover.  

The scholars also are being recognized on a website to showcase their outstanding achievements.

“This is such an impressive group of young leaders,” Holodick said. “The honorees have succeeded academically while also serving as leaders in their schools and communities. As the students themselves shared, their success is due not just to their own hard work but also thanks to the support of their families and educators. As they prepare for college, the workforce and military service, I hope that wherever their next steps take them, their paths lead them to careers in Delaware.  We need them as the future leaders of our state.”

The state has named Secretary of Education Scholars every year since 1984.

Video showcases 2023 Scholars, self-reflections

Check out the 2023 Scholars and their self-reflections on what inspired their success.

From the Secretary: Delaware students need all of us 

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

As data continues to emerge and be dissected, it is apparent that the pandemic has had long-lasting impacts on our students. Impacts that are directly affecting student success in critical areas such as basic reading skills, math problem solving, and personal self-regulation. Anyone working in schools and classrooms today can attest to the fact that needs are high.

Even though Delaware educators, school leaders, and state officials have intensified their support for school communities by focusing on providing more mental health resources and increasing learning loss recovery efforts, too many of our students are still struggling from past disruptions and school building closures. Our efforts are not yet enough to produce timely results for every student in every school in Delaware.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores released this past fall directly represent the current academic situation of Delaware’s fourth and eighth grade students. In mathematics, Delaware’s NAEP scores experienced their largest decline since 1969.  In reading, scores dropped greater than nearly every other state. When comparing pre-pandemic to post-pandemic results, these NAEP scores align with our 2022 state assessment scores. Most devastating are the results among students of color, students with disabilities, and students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Swift recovery from this learning loss is vital to the future of students, families, our communities, and our state.  Knowing that, Delaware schools immediately began to develop programs and leverage community partnerships to maximize support for students and families. In March 2020, every Delaware district and charter school began receiving significant federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to aid school communities. District and charter leaders solicited public feedback on how best to use the funds. Plans were developed and posted online on every district and charter website, outlining how the money is being applied in school communities across the state.

Help us show appreciation for Delaware's great teachers

National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 8 to 12 this year. Now more than ever Delaware is aware of the incredible work and talents of our teachers. Help us show appreciation for the great educators in your lives. Send shoutouts to School.Appreciation@doe.k12.de.us. Include:

Shoutouts will be shared using the hashtag #IloveDEteachers on Facebook (@DEDeptEducation), Twitter (DEDeptofEd) and Instagram (@DEDeptEducation). If you post any teacher tributes, please remember to use the hashtag and also tag DDOE.

Thank you again for your shout-outs to Delaware teachers!

Delaware Teacher of the Year celebrates Washington Week

2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year Ashley Lockwood gets a special shoutout from Delaware's former-senator President Joe Biden.

Delaware's 2023 State Teacher of the Year Ashley Lockwood is in Washington D.C. this week with 54 other state teachers of the year from across the country and U.S. territories. Ashley is a fifth-grade teacher at Milford School District's Lulu Ross Elementary School who was named State Teacher of the Year in October. This week's stay in Washington is part of a one-of-a-kind year of professional learning for state teachers of the year to network, discover and celebrate their achievements.

Day one included a teacher talk presented by five of the 2022 Teachers of the Year, including the 2022 Delaware Teacher of the Year Jahsha Tabron. During the day, Ashley also heard presentations on adaptive learning, leadership, consistency and more.

On day two, the 2023 State Teachers of the Year were honored at the White House by President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. Ashley received a special shoutout from President Biden for being Delaware's Teacher of the Year (and also for having the same name as Biden's daughter).

Day three was spent at the National Museum of Natural History, providing feedback on the Smithsonian’s Education Initiatives. Ashley also had an opportunity to visit the Afrofuturism exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Check out Ashley's day 1 pics, day 2 pics and day 3 pics online. To enjoy more of her adventures throughout the week, follow Ashley's 2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year account on Facebook. 

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov