Jaclyn Durant is this year’s Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.
Jaclyn Durant, a school social worker at Richey Elementary in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, has been named Delaware’s 2025 Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.
“I approach my work through a trauma-informed, relationship-based lens, integrating nervous system regulation strategies into the supports I provide,” Durant said.
The announcement was made by Governor Matt Meyer and Secretary of Education Cindy Marten during a statewide ceremony Monday nigh honoring top behavioral health professionals across Delaware’s school districts and charter networks.
Durant, who has served the Red Clay community for 17 years, was recognized for her trauma-informed, relationship-based approach to student support. Her work emphasizes emotional regulation and wellness, helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
Among the initiatives she’s led at Richey Elementary are morning emotional check-ins and classroom regulation stations — spaces equipped with tools such as breathing tracers, yoga cards, and fidget items designed to help students manage stress and return to learning.
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The bilingual morning check-in system, featuring the school mascot, allows teachers to assess students’ emotional states as they arrive each day. Students use a feelings chart to express how they’re doing, giving staff early insight into who might need additional support.
“As more students began arriving at school dysregulated, I recognized the need for both a daily emotional check-in and accessible Tier 1 regulation supports throughout the day,” Durant said.
Each fall, Durant visits every homeroom to teach students how to use the stations effectively.
She says this proactive approach has helped students build emotional awareness and develop self-management skills — a sentiment echoed by staff at the school.
“Jaclyn is the heart of our school community. She brings a tireless work ethic and a profound sense of empathy to her role each day,” said Richey Principal Gregg Johnson. “Whether she is supporting students through personal struggles, helping families navigate challenges outside of school, or connecting them with critical community resources, her work is consistently rooted in care, equity and dignity.”
Durant’s recognition is part of the Delaware Department of Education’s Behavioral Health Professional of the Year program, which honors school counselors, psychologists, nurses, and social workers who make significant contributions to student mental health.
As the state honoree, Durant will receive a $3,000 award from the Department of Education, along with $5,000 for use on student-related initiatives. She also received a $2,000 award from her district for being Red Clay’s nominee.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
Jarek can be reached by email at jarek@dimgrey-peafowl-504880.hostingersite.com or by phone at (215) 450-9982. Follow him on Twitter @jarekrutz and on LinkedIn.
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