July 26, 2023

Summer experiences benefit every student

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

One of the greatest gifts of education is that it exposes students to new perspectives and ideas. Through education, children get more opportunities to hone in on their likes and dislikes, gain a greater understanding of their world, and eventually determine and work toward the future they most prefer. Traditional education typically occurs in – though sometimes even in outdoor – classrooms. But educators and families know full well that all experiences educate, and even non-academic experiences can significantly impact a student’s academic success.

Keeping kids active and curious over summer is especially important during the long break in public education. In summer, it’s easy for students to lose some of the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired throughout the school year. The term for this is “summer slide,” and the Delaware Department of Education works hard alongside districts, charter schools, Delaware agencies and community partners to develop initiatives and resources that keep students from falling behind during this critical period.

The Governor’s Summer Fellowship is one example of how Delaware comes together to empower students across the state. Through hands-on, paid work opportunities at summer camps in each county, on-site mentoring and also networking opportunities with state leaders, students gain on-the-job experience, remain active while school is on break and develop a deeper understanding of education, government and their communities. Delaware high school students can apply for the Governor’s Fellowship program each fall of their junior and senior years.

The Governor’s Summer Learning Resources website is another resource that helps minimize learning loss by giving families information about programs – both private and public – across the state that are designed to promote academics as well as other beneficial opportunities, such as taekwondo and art camp.

Delaware benefits from offering these types resources, of course, because positive out-of-school experiences can encourage personal exploration and career development, nurture interpersonal and civic engagement, and lay the groundwork for navigating diverse and even challenging situations. But positive summer experiences of any kind also greatly elevate a student’s future aptitude and self-worth.

As a state, we often talk about the non-academic benefits of early learning, but we must continue prioritizing year-round, non-academic learning for all ages as well. And just like a usual school year, we must continue our commitment to equity, partnerships and even scholarships in our summer learning approach so that these types of valuable experiences continue to be made available to all students.

By addressing summer slide in Delaware, students will have even more chances to define and attain their own version of personal success. As a state, we must continue to work together to support and expand both academic and non-academic summer programs so students can shape a brighter future for themselves and their communities.

Read all updates from Secretary Mark Holodick.

Delaware marks school safety achievements

The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) joins staff and students from Sussex Technical High School and officials from Sussex County Emergency Operations Center and Delaware State Police to test the standard method to reunite students and families during a school emergency. Representatives from Beebe Healthcare also attended.

The Delaware Comprehensive School Safety Program (CSSP) is marking the completion of several significant safety initiatives, including:

The new school safety plan is the first major update since the creation of CSSP in 2012 and will provide schools with the most current guidance to keep students and staff prepared for a wide range of emergencies.

Delaware is now the first in the U.S. to complete high-resolution digital blueprints of all school buildings and grounds for every public and charter school in the state.

Delaware is also the first to complete statewide adoption of the “Standard Response Protocol” (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter) and the “Standard Reunification Method” by the I Love U Guys Foundation, considered the gold standard in responding and reuniting students with parents or guardians during any crisis: fire, flood, tornado, power outage, bomb threat, accident, or act of violence. All state schools have now completed training and are forming reunification teams.

Appo student awarded $40k College Board scholarship

Each month, two $40,000 and hundreds of $500 scholarships—totaling more than $3 million annually —are awarded to students.

College Board announced that Appoquinimink School District student Steven Thornton has earned one of two monthly $40,000 scholarships through BigFuture, the College Board’s online guide that helps students plan for life after high school.

“We are so excited for Steven. To have one of our students win this award is an amazing accomplishment,” said Dr. Amanda Conley, Middletown High School principal. “Our Cavaliers do great things in the classroom and beyond – and we have no doubt Steven will continue to make everyone proud.”

Powered by College Board, BigFuture simplifies the path to life after high school by recommending small steps that all students—no matter their high school—can take at just the right time to explore career interests, identify potential majors, find colleges and scholarships, and access financial aid. It rewards the effort students take by providing chances at scholarships.

“Now more than ever, students need simple and credible tools to help them choose the college and career that’s right for them,” said Tarlin Ray, College Board senior vice president of BigFuture. “We’ve integrated these scholarship steps into BigFuture so every student—no matter where they are on their journey to college—can take the steps Steven has taken to raise their hands and earn themselves a big future.”

All class of 2024 and class of 2025 students are now eligible to win $500 and $40,000 scholarships they can use at two- or four-year institutions. There are no essay, test score, citizenship status, family income, or minimum GPA requirements. Drawings for $500 and $40,000 are held every month. Students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year have extra chances at scholarships and earn double the entries for every drawing. The sooner students complete the following steps and the more steps they take, the more entries they’ll earn:

College Board has dedicated $25 million to the program that lays out six simple steps all students can take to get to college. More than $16 million in scholarships have been awarded to more 19,000 students since the program launched in December 2018. Class of 2024 and class of 2025 students with College Board accounts in the United States and U.S. territories are automatically entered into monthly drawings for $500 and $40,000 by completing specific steps on bigfuture.org.

Future Educators win big at national conference

Future educators from Smyrna High School were named national champions at the Educators Rising National Conference.

In total, 18 individual or teams from Delaware were recognized with Top 10 honors. Smyrna High School had 11 individuals or teams place in the Top 10 and was crowned 2023 National Champion.

Delaware Teacher Academy students and advisors from across the state attended the 2023 Educators Rising National Conference in Orlando.  Delaware was represented by students from Appoquinimink School District’s Appoquinimink High School, Brandywine School District’s Concord High School, Cape Henlopen School District’s Cape Henlopen High School, Indian River School District’s Sussex Central High School, Laurel School District’s Laurel High School, New Castle County Vocational Technical School District’s Howard High School of Technology, Red Clay Consolidated School District’s McKean High School, Seaford School District’s Seaford High School, Smyrna School District’s Smyrna High School and Delaware Technical Community College.

Throughout the conference students were able to engage in professional and personal development opportunities, networking and competitive events.  Educators Rising competitions are performance-based competitive events in which aspiring educators demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and leadership in education.

Seaford High School’s Taylor Jenkins was elected as the national vice president of service.  Jenkins is only the third student in Delaware to be elected as a national officer with Educators Rising.

Visit the full list of Delaware Educator Rising winners.

2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year attends Space Camp

2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year Ashley Lockwood attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. earlier this month. (See more pics here, here, here, and here.)

Delaware Teacher of the Year Ashley Lockwood (2023) joined teacher of the year representatives from around the country at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama earlier this month.

Lockwood, a fifth grade reading and social studies teacher in the Spanish immersion program at Milford School District's Lulu M. Ross Elementary School, represented Delaware this year as part of her 2023 celebration.

On her first night, Lockwood attended the Teacher of the Year Parade of States event, which asked all attendees to dress as something that represents their state. Lockwood dressed as a ladybug, which became Delaware’s state bug in 1974 thanks to the efforts of second grade teacher Mollie Brown-Rust and her class from Lulu M. Ross Elementary School!

The 2024 Delaware Teacher of the Year will be named this October. 

Selected from among the almost 10,000 public school teachers in the state, Delaware Teacher of the Year candidates are nominated by their districts or the Delaware Charter School Network because of their ability to inspire students with a love of learning, demonstration of professional traits and devotion to teaching. Already leaders among the colleagues in their buildings, each assumes a role representing educators in their districts or the charter network.

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov