February 26, 2025

Guidance, resources address immigration action in public schools

Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten launched a website this month with guidance and resources for educators and families concerned about immigration action in Delaware public schools.

“Students cannot focus on learning when they worry a classmate, sibling, or parent may be removed from their lives at any moment. Educators already facing massive challenges cannot focus on their teaching when students are feeling confused, scared, and unsupported,” Marten said. “Delaware has a long history of protecting immigrant students, and our schools do not ask a student’s immigration status. It has been more than 40 years since the United States Supreme Court, in Plyler v. Doe, ruled public schools may not deny students access to their education based on their immigration status.”

The website includes information on immigrant student rights, support available for schools and educators, recommended action steps for Delaware schools, and links to state and national resources for schools and families.

Governor Matt Meyer said, “As a teacher, I believe every child who enters a classroom should be known by their work ethic and their behavior toward others, not their ethnicity or immigration status.  Every student has a right to feel safe, but the threat of raids by the federal government is stoking fear that harms the ability of all students to learn. Fear prevents students from focusing and parents from participating fully in their education while creating barriers for our already overworked educators. The action taken today by the State of Delaware, led by our new Secretary of Education, Cindy Marten, will protect students from attempts to bully our immigrant students and families through the threat of mass deportation raids. We’ve all had enough distractions. Let’s get to work building a brighter future for every child and family who calls Delaware home.”

Video: Secretary Marten promotes equal education access

“We're not politicians, we're educators.” Delaware Education Secretary Cindy Marten is committed to making sure all children have equal access to public education.

Here's what you need to know: Delaware immigrant student guidance

Delaware TOY attends national orientation, receives personal grant

2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year Shelby Borst represents Delaware at the national orientation program in California (more pics).

2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year (TOY) Shelby Borst attended the national TOY orientation in Sacramento, California this month alongside other state teachers of the year.

Hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the event gave state honorees the opportunity to learn more about the TOY program and explore current topics in education, including how artificial intelligence (AI) can support teachers and students. Google for Education is the lead program sponsor this year, and many of the training sessions took place on the Google campus.

The week was filled with an unforgettable moment when the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation announced that each state TOY will receive a $10,000 personal grant. The surprise announcement brought screams and tears from those in attendance.

Shelby is a high school social studies teacher from William Penn High School in the Colonial School District. Congratulations to her and to all of the inspiring teachers making a difference every day for Delaware students and families.

Delaware State Finals for the 2025 Poetry Out Loud (POL) Recitation Contest were held this month in Smyrna. Thirteen Delaware students competed to represent the First State at the national contest in Washington D.C., where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed.

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. POL uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals in Washington, DC. More than 100,000 students take part in POL nationwide each year.

In Delaware schools, students select and recite works from an anthology of more than 1,200 poems. The Delaware Division of the Arts coordinates and provides guidance for each school's POL program. 

DelDOT congratulates Name That Plow student winners

Students and staff at Jennie Smith Elementary in the Christina School District celebrate their New Castle County win for the 2025 Name that Plow contest. 

Shortly after Delaware received its first accumulating snow in nearly two years, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) announced the winners of this year’s “Name That Plow” contest.

The creative and fun names submitted by elementary school students across Delaware are a testament to their imagination and appreciation for the dedicated work of DelDOT’s snowplow operators and technicians.

The 2025 winners are:
Sussex County: Blizzard Wizard by John M. Clayton Elementary
Kent County: Plowana by Fairview Elementary
New Castle County: Ctrl Salt Delete by Jennie Smith Elementary

This marks the fourth year of the “Name That Plow” contest, which invites K-5 students to participate in celebrating DelDOT’s hard-working snow removal crews. Their efforts ensure safer roads for everyone during winter storms.

DelDOT Secretary Shanté Hastings shared her excitement, saying: “We love seeing the creativity of Delaware’s young minds in this contest! Our snowplows and employees have been busy this January with back-to-back storms, and these clever names are a great way to honor their hard work and dedication to keeping our roads clear and safe.”

DelDOT has more than 400 pieces of snow removal equipment statewide and is responsible for treating and plowing almost 14,000 lane miles of roadway.

Delaware Department of Education I education.delaware.gov