September 28, 2022

2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year to be named in October

Twenty of the state’s top teachers will be honored at a celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 11, when one of them will be named Delaware’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

The candidates were nominated by their districts or the Delaware Charter Network during the 2022 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.

Each nominee submitted a detailed application exemplifying his or her teaching philosophy. Five Delaware Department of Education staff members independently evaluate each application. A former Delaware Teacher of the Year and department staff member observe each candidate in the classroom. Taking into consideration the ratings from the application review and observations as well as a recorded presentation by the nominees, another independent panel of non-department judges then selects the one teacher who will serve as the 2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year.

The teacher chosen to become the State Teacher of the Year will become Delaware’s nominee in the national program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.

New program encourages students to keep Delaware litter-free

Governor Carney this month launched a new program encouraging students to keep their communities litter free. The program – “Litter Free School Zones” – was launched in coordination with Keep Delaware Beautiful and the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT). This was launched in coordination with the “Keep DE Litter Free” initiative.

The Litter Free School Zone program is designed to encourage students to keep their school grounds litter-free and to raise public awareness regarding litter. Every school in the state is encouraged to join the movement to keep Delaware litter free.

“The Litter Free School Zone program asks children to ‘think globally and act locally,’ something that stuck with me from when I was younger,” said Governor Carney. “We know that children are the conduit to change and that we can help create positive lasting habits in our youth that will carry over past their time at school and into their communities. Picking up litter makes an immediate and noticeable difference. It connects us to each other and makes us feel part of something bigger.”

“Children play an important role in Keeping DE Litter Free. This program will continue to instill pride in our schools. As stewards of their school campuses, our students’ commitment to be litter free spills over to the community and neighborhoods,” said Dr. Christine Alois, Superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District.

In order to become a Litter Free School Zone, each school is asked to conduct two litter clean ups as a campus. Students are also asked to track the types of litter collected to help determine future messaging about litter. At the culmination of the two campus wide litter clean ups DelDOT will provide a post and sign designating the school as a Litter Free School Zone. Students, clubs, and classes can participate in the Litter Free School Zone program.

“Keeping schools litter-free is an easy and fun way for students to work together, learning valuable community leadership and responsibility skills while gaining a respect for the environment and the world around them,” said Michael Parkowski, Chairman of the Board of Keep DE Beautiful.

Schools can sign up for the program on the Keep Delaware Beautiful website.

Appoquinimink hosts Patriots Day Remembrance Ceremony

Middletown High School Air Force JROTC program Cadets participate in this month's Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony (more pics).

Editor's Note: The following piece was submitted by Appoquinimink School District.

This month the Cadets of Middletown High School's Air Force JROTC program continued a longstanding tradition of honoring the 2,977 individuals who lost their lives on 9-11. They were joined by more than 100 First Responders – including police, fire, EMS, Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement, RECOM (911), K-9 – from across New Castle County and as far away as Dover.

First Responders gathered alongside Appoquinimink School District students, educators, elected officials and Cadets on the front lawn of the school where, after a moving program, the USA and Freedom Flag were raised.

Did you know? This year, bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Senator Stephanie Hansen and Representative Kevin Hensley resulted in the passage of a new law that encourages all Delaware Schools and State Buildings to raise a Remembrance Flag on 9-11 and provide education about the events of that day to our children. The Cadets at MHS were gifted with a ceremonial copy of the bill in recognition of our District's leadership in this area. Since 2017, all ASD Schools have flown the Freedom Flag, thanks to a fundraising campaign led by Dr. Jason Wall.

The president of the Freedom Flag Foundation, Mr. John Riley joined the program and presented three flags – USA, Delaware and the Freedom Flag – to commemorate the event. Appoquinimink School District expresses gratitude to Middletown High School's AF JROTC Program, especially Lt. Colonel Scott Boehne, CMSgt. David Smith, CMSgt Michael Conway (ret.), Cadet Colonel Avery O'Connell, Cadet Captain Constantine Arellano, Cadet Captain Isaac Rue, Cadet 1st Lieutenant Morgan Pilar, Cadet 2nd Lieutenant Sabrina Ayad, Cadet CMSgt. Robert McGuire, Cadet SMSgt Cayla Kleinmeulman and MHS trumpeter Allyson Lewis – for an exceptional demonstration of leadership.

Capital, Red Clay schools named 2022 Blue Ribbon Schools

Congratulations to the following Delaware schools for being recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2022 by the U.S. Department of Education.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 297 schools this month based on the schools' overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Secretary Cardona made the announcement during his Road to Success Back to School bus tour.

"I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams," said Secretary Cardona. "As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students' lives."

The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.

National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of effective school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School flag gracing a school's entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. 

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov