October 25, 2023

Appoquinimink teacher named 2024 Teacher of the Year

A high school engineering and science teacher from the Appoquinimink School District is Delaware’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year.

Cory Hafer of Middletown High School now is Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Governor John Carney made the announcement during a Dover ceremony to honor the 20 district/charter teachers of the year.

Hafer will use his position to advocate for the importance of building student connections.

“We need to build deep connections by ensuring that all our actions help students feel welcome and supported. When students break norms, we should develop consequences with students that help them restore harm done and learn from mistakes. The grading systems we use should align with this growth mindset. Each day we need to remind our students they matter, listen to their concerns, and allow them to guide their learning,” he said. “Our ultimate goal should be to have sufficient connections with our students that they feel comfortable being themselves and confident asking for support. Without these connections, other learning strategies and efforts to develop strong lessons will not meet the needs of all learners.”

In his application, Hafer reflected on how when he talks to other teachers in his role as a “restorative champion,” a major misconception exists that restorative practices require being soft on discipline.

“Teachers want students to learn and capitalize on teachable moments. When students misbehave, it is easy to fall into a punitive, fixed mindset, assigning consequences but not trying to figure out why the behavior occurred or how to help students learn to avoid future mistakes,” he said. “Punishment without restoration pushes students away from our community, when we really want them to know they are a vital member of our community. The key to success with restorative practices is building connections and facilitating a restorative culture before issues arise.”

Video: Meet the 20 district/charter Teachers of the Year

Twenty Delaware educators were selected from among the nearly 10,000 public school teachers in the state as nominees for the 2024 Delaware Teacher of the Year award, which was announced earlier this month in Dover. The nominees each represent one of the state's 19 school districts and network of charter schools.

Candidates were nominated by their districts or the charter network during the 2023 calendar year because of their superior ability to inspire students with a love of learning, exemplary demonstration of professional traits and strong sense of dedication and devotion to teaching. Check out this video to learn more about what makes these teachers so amazing.

Two Schools Earn State School Counseling Award

Bunker Hill Elementary School Counselor Brittni Piser celebrates the award announcement with her Principal Amy Jones and Assistant Principal Nicole Brizill.

Appoquinimink School District’s Bunker Hill Elementary School and Capital School District’s Kent County Secondary Intensive Learning Center have earned Delaware’s Sapphire Award for Excellence in School Counseling.

This state recognition, now in its fourth year, recognizes school counseling programs that are comprehensive, data-informed and designed to serve all students.

“Both these schools have used data to strategically design services and interventions to improve student outcomes,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said, noting each program uses a combination of classroom lessons, small group counseling and individual supports to support the success of its students.

The schools design programming to meet the specific needs of their students.

Brittni Piser, school counselor at Bunker Hill Elementary, wants her students to learn the importance of good behavior early in the their school career. She teaches students about their emotions and how to manage them in ways that will help them to be successful through her classroom lessons and small groups, as well as her check in/check out program for students who need additional support.

Andrea Woodard, school counselor at the Kent County Secondary ILC, focuses a lot of her work on getting students on track for graduation. She provides interventions such as classroom lessons, individual planning, and collaboration with others to help students plan for their future and make connections between school success and achieving those goals.

State program celebrates first CDA credential graduate

The Early Childhood Innovation Center (ECIC) graduated its first Child Development Associate® (CDA) earlier this month. Jacqueline Riley Charlton was the first student in the state-funded program to complete the models necessary to obtain a CDA credential. Each model is designed to meet the unique needs of Delaware's early childhood workforce.  

CDA is a nationally-recognized credential for early childhood professionals. The credential provides a pathway for learning best teaching practices and helps early childhood educators meet current state and national requirements. Applying for the CDA requires 120 hours of education, 480 hours of work experience, and a professional portfolio.

ECIC is a newly developed initiative aiming to redesign Delaware’s early childhood education support model. Funded by the Delaware Department of Education in partnership with Delaware State University, ECIC is focused on improving access and removing barriers to early learning educators pursuing advanced credentials, such as the CDA certificate and post-secondary associate or bachelor degrees. 

Delaware FFA students take home Big E awards

Delaware FFA members post during the Big E event in Springfield, MA (more pics).

Delaware FFA members from across the state brought home national awards from The Big E in Springfield, MA, last month.

The Big E is an annual event that begins on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for 17 days. Eastern States Exposition is not owned by any specific individual or group and is organized as a not-for-profit, educational institution under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its governing body is a volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of distinguished civic, business and agricultural leaders from each of the six New England states.

During The Big E, Delaware FFA members competed in 16 Career and Leadership Development Events as well as the Agriscience Fair. The following Delaware FFA Chapters were in attendance:

Multiple teams and individuals earned top five placings. To see a full list of the Delaware FFA results, click here: Delaware FFA Big E Results

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov