Summer Learning Starts Here
As another school year comes to a close, summer provides an opportunity to learn, grow, and prepare for the year ahead. Across Delaware, leaders continue to invest in strengthening instructional practice, supporting educator growth, and building systems that improve outcomes for students. Whether through professional learning, leadership development, instructional feedback, or continuous improvement efforts, the work underway this summer is helping establish a strong foundation for the 2026–2027 school year.
This issue highlights upcoming professional learning and credentialing opportunities, celebrates leadership that is developing the next generation of educators, and showcases statewide initiatives designed to strengthen systems that support educator growth and student success.
Educator Excellence Spotlight: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders
This Month’s Focus: Building the Capacity for the Year Ahead
Leader Action Hub: Preparing for a Strong Start in 2026–2027
Featured Opportunity: DTGSS Learning Walks Version 2.0
Professional Opportunities: Summer Learning & Recredentialing
System Spotlight: Strengthening Systems for Educator Growth and Student Success
Resource Spotlight: Planning Tools for Instructional Leadership
Help Shape the Learning Leader Digest: Share Your Feedback. Access the survey.
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This month, we recognize Brandon Snyder, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Kelley Kirkland, Assistant Superintendent, of the Woodbridge School District for their leadership in launching the inaugural Rising Blue Raiders program. Developed in partnership with Dave Santore and Educational Leadership Services, LLC, the year-long initiative provides aspiring administrators with authentic leadership experiences, including professional learning, leadership projects, administrative shadowing, and mock interviews.
The program reflects a strong commitment to building leadership capacity from within by investing in current educators who aspire to serve in future leadership roles. Through intentional planning and meaningful learning experiences, Brandon and Kelley are creating pathways for growth while strengthening the district's leadership pipeline for years to come.
Why it Matters: Developing future leaders is essential to sustaining high-quality schools. Programs like Rising Blue Raiders provide educators with opportunities to build leadership skills, deepen their understanding of school improvement, and prepare for the complex responsibilities of instructional leadership.
Learn More: Woodbridge School District Launches “Rising Blue Raiders” Program to Develop Future Administrators
Know an educator doing great work? Nominate them to be spotlighted in a future issue by completing this nomination form.
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Pictured Left to Right: Brittany Thornton, Jessica Redmond, Heather Kerrick, James Weiler, David Norman, Rachel Thomson-Troyer, Alexis McGuire, Halie Swain, Savannah Spotz, Fred Pearson, JD Messeck, Carolyn Retzlaff, and Josh Getka.
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Leader Action Hub:
Building Capacity for the Year Ahead |
Summer provides an opportunity to strengthen leadership practice, develop future leaders, and prepare systems that support educator growth and student success. Consider how you will:
Strengthen your own leadership practice
Participate in DTGSS, DPAS II, or Summer Spark professional learning to refine observation, feedback, and instructional leadership skills.
Align professional learning to school priorities
Use data, feedback trends, and instructional goals to determine which summer learning opportunities will have the greatest impact on teaching and learning next year.
Prepare systems for successful implementation
Explore opportunities such as DTGSS Learning Walks Version 2.0, credentialing, and evaluation system supports to strengthen feedback cycles, professional growth, and instructional improvement efforts.
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Featured Opportunity:
DTGSS Learning Walks Version 2.0 |
Partner with the Delaware Department of Education, in collaboration with Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning (CIPL) and Educator Excellence, to strengthen how feedback cycles drive real improvement in teaching and learning.
DTGSS Learning Walks 2.0 is a collaborative partnership focused on strengthening instructional feedback cycles through brief observations, actionable feedback consistent to the instructional expectations of the content, and timely follow-up that support meaningful improvement in teaching and learning. Participating schools engage in ongoing cycles with the same teachers over time, helping connect observation, feedback, and follow-up to instructional growth.
Why Participate?
-Strengthen instructional leadership
-Strengthen the culture of learning and teacher practice over time
-Build systems that connect observation, feedback, and follow-up
Applications Due: June 30, 2026
Information Sessions: June 16 and June 18
For more information, view the flyer here.
Contact: Angela Socorso
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Summer Professional Learning Opportunities |
Summer offers an opportunity to deepen practice, strengthen leadership, and prepare for successful implementation in the year ahead. Whether you are a teacher, specialist, instructional leader, or administrator, the Delaware Department of Education has designed professional learning opportunities to support your growth.
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- Summer DTGSS Professional Learning for Teachers
- Teachers are invited to participate in a virtual session focused on reflection, instructional growth, and professional learning through the DTGSS framework. Participants will explore strategies to strengthen practice and support continued growth.
- June 23, 2026
PDMS #44477 | View the flyer here for more information | Two session options available | 2 clock hours
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- Summer DPAS II Professional Learning for Specialists
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Specialists are invited to participate in a virtual session focused on strengthening understanding of the specialist evaluation system through reflection, evidence collection, and meaningful feedback conversations that support professional growth.
- June 23, 2026, | 1:00–2:30 PM
PDMS #44523 | View the flyer here for more information |1.5 clock hours
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- Summer Spark Series for Administrators
- Strengthen your ability to analyze teaching, align feedback, and lead instructional improvement through DTGSS while advancing Building Block 3: Great Teaching and Learning. Each session is designed to provide practical strategies and tools that can be immediately applied in schools and classrooms.
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PDMS #42563 | View the flyer here for more information.
All sessions are held from 9:00–10:30 AM and count toward DTGSS recertification.
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Leader Credentialing Opportunities
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Whether you are new to educator evaluation or due for recertification, the Delaware Department of Education offers credentialing opportunities designed to build evaluator expertise and support high-quality implementation of Delaware's educator evaluation systems.
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- DTGSS Recredentialing & Leadership Refresh
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Administrators seeking DTGSS recredentialing and instructional leaders interested in strengthening observation and feedback practices are invited to participate in the DTGSS Recredentialing & Leadership Refresh Session. The session focuses on calibration, evidence collection, coaching conversations, instructional look-fors, and high-quality feedback practices that support teacher growth and student learning. Participants attend one virtual session and may earn credit toward DTGSS recertification.
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PDMS #44548 | View the flyer here for session dates and registration information.
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- Delaware Teacher Growth and Support System (DTGSS) Credentialing Sessions for NEW Administrators
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Registration is now open for the 2026–2027 Delaware Teacher Growth and Support System (DTGSS) Credentialing Course, aligned to the DDOE Strategic Plan, Building Block 3: Great Teaching and Learning. This 24-hour virtual course is required for all administrators who conduct teacher evaluations. Sessions begin in July 2026, and participants may select from eight available cohorts to best fit their schedules.
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PDMS #44480 | View the flyer here for cohort options and registration information.
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- DPAS II Specialist System Initial Credentialing for New Administrators
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Registration is now open for the DPAS II Specialist System Initial Credentialing session, aligned to the DDOE Strategic Plan, Building Block 2: Safe and Supportive Schools. This one-day virtual learning experience is required for administrators who evaluate specialists and is designed for those who have not previously conducted specialist observations.
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PDMS #44481 | View the flyer here for cohort options and registration information.
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- DPAS II Specialist System Recredentialing for Administrators
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Registration is now open for the DPAS II Specialist System Re-Credentialing session, aligned to the DDOE Strategic Plan, Building Block 2: Safe and Supportive Schools. This two-hour virtual session is designed for current administrators who need to renew their specialist evaluator credentials. Participants will review system updates, evidence collection practices, and actionable feedback strategies that support accurate, fair, and growth-focused evaluations.
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PDMS #44485 | View the flyer here for cohort options and registration information.
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- DPAS II Administrator System Initial Credentialing
- The DPAS II for Administrators Initial Credentialing Course is a one-day, in-person training required for all administrators who are new to evaluating assistant principals, principals, and district administrators. The session prepares participants to effectively implement the DPAS II for Administrators evaluation system and conduct high-quality evaluations.
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PDMS #27795
| View the flyer here for cohort options and registration information.
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Contact: Brandie Foxx
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- DPAS II Administrator System Recredentialing
- DPAS II for Administrators Re-Credentialing Course: The re-credentialing course is one half-day (virtual) session and meets the requirements of Regulation 108A, which requires re-credentialing every 5 years to evaluate another administrator.
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PDMS #27796 | View the flyer here for cohort options and registration information.
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Contact: Brandie Foxx
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Systems Spotlight
Strengthening Systems for Educator Growth and Student Success
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Across Delaware, educators and leaders are collaborating to refine evaluation systems, strengthen instructional feedback, and support continuous improvement. The initiatives below highlight some of the work underway to build stronger systems that support educator growth and student success.
Student Improvement Component (SIC) Pilot
The Student Improvement Component (SIC) Pilot completed its first year of pilot implementation during the 2025–2026 school year. The pilot was designed to support educators in setting meaningful student-focused goals, monitoring progress, and using evidence to inform instructional decisions throughout the year. Through an ongoing cycle of reflection, action, and adjustment, educators engaged in practices intended to strengthen the connection between professional practice and student outcomes.
Planning is now underway for Pilot Year 2. Feedback from participating educators, evaluators, and district leaders is helping refine guidance, resources, and implementation supports. We extend our appreciation to all pilot participants for their willingness to learn, provide feedback, and contribute to the continued development of this work.
DPAS II for Specialists Revision Work
The Delaware Department of Education continues its work to refine the DPAS II for Specialists evaluation system. During the 2025–2026 school year, committee members reviewed specialist evaluation models from other states, examined national professional standards, and collaborated to strengthen the system's focus on professional growth, reflection, and outcomes of learning. This work has informed proposed revisions designed to better support specialists and their evaluators.
Multi-Year Development Timeline
Year 1 (2025–2026): Research & Design
-Reviewed specialist evaluation models from other states
-Examined national professional standards
-Began to resign the framework
Year 2 (2026–2027): Design Refinement
-Continue to design the framework
-Start to identify the new forms, guidance, and processes
-Prepare for pilot implementation
Year 3 (2027–2028): Pilot Year 1
-Initial implementation of revised components
-Collect feedback and implementation data
Year 4 (2028–2029): Pilot Year 2
-Continue implementation and refinement
-Identify additional supports and adjustments
Year 5 (2029–2030): Full Implementation
-Statewide implementation of the revised specialist evaluation system
-Ongoing support and continuous improvement
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Three Reports Every Leader Should Review This Summer
Professional Growth Goal Report
Identify trends in educator goals to inform professional learning priorities.
Indicators with Tagged Evidence/Claims Report
Review patterns in instructional practice across DTGSS indicators.
School Observation Report
Examine the quality of feedback provided to teachers, including claims, evidence, impacts, and action steps.
Directions for accessing each report can be found here.
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