Six Delaware teachers have won the PAEMST Award.

6 First State teachers win Presidential math/science teaching award 

Staff WriterNews Briefs

Six Delaware teachers have won the 2021 – 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST). It’s the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States.  Here are the First State teachers who won: 2021 Michael Reitemeyer – Math teacher at Mount …

Cindy Marten has been selected to be the next Delaware Secretary of Education.

Cindy Marten named new Delaware Secretary of Education

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

The state of Delaware has a new secretary of education, and she’s been plucked from her role as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Cindy Marten will replace current secretary Mark Holodick, leaving an agency that President-Elect Donald Trump has sworn to close. “I am honored to join Governor-elect Meyer’s team and help lead Delaware’s public schools into a …

The state's esports program launches this month. (Photos of Saint Mark's esports lab, taken by Jarek Rutz)

Esports popularity grows with DOE launching statewide program

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Esports is booming in popularity, with several schools in Delaware opening esports labs and colleges implementing esports curriculums or degrees – and now the state’s Department of Education is hopping on the keyboard. Friday, the department announced it’s partnering with Delaware State University, Goldey-Beacom College, University of Delaware, and Wilmington University to launch a statewide educational esports program. It’s for …

The latest Delaware Excellent Educator Hiring Practices Survey shows educator shortage numbers improving. (Photo from rukxstockphoto/Adobe Stock)

Report suggests educator shortage slowly improving in Del.

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

  The nationwide educator shortage has been a thorn in the side of schools, but the burden is easing in the First State.  Delaware’s public schools have 259 vacant staff positions (2.5% of the total educator workforce), a 52% decrease compared to the previous hiring season.  Delaware has more than 10,000 instructional and non-instructional workers. However, not all openings are …

DELAWARE’S SCHOOL CHOICE APPLICATION WINDOW CLOSES WEDNESDAY, JAN. 8 AT 11:59 P.M.

WEDNESDAY: Application deadline for school choice 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Parents have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to submit applications for their child to attend a school outside their residential district for the 2025-2026 academic year. If history holds true, the state is likely to see about 25,000 applications from parents wanting to switch this year. “Delaware is unique, but it’s more about understanding that our children are unique,” said Kendall …

Join Delaware Schools

Join Delaware Schools kicks off teacher, staff recruitment efforts earlier than usual

Peter OsborneEducation, Headlines

The Delaware Department of Education is accelerating its efforts to help school districts and charter schools fill open teaching and staff slots, starting its 2025 Join Delaware Schools recruitment initiative earlier in the year than 2023 and 2024. More than 175 people registered for the recruitment fairs in 2024—resulting in approximately 220 visits to virtual booths set up by Delaware …

Getting improved and transparent data is a critical baby step in the state's mission to improve Delaware's schools.

Delaware’s school awards spark data debate

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

A recent dispute over Delaware’s school recognition program highlights the growing challenge of measuring and communicating educational progress in an era of increasing data complexity.  The Delaware Department of Education recently awarded 17 schools with state and national recognition for achievements in student growth, closing achievement gaps, and serving special populations.  However, education policy expert Tanya Hettler, Ph.D., from the …

Colonial's Shelby Borst was named the 2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year in October.

Get to know the state’s top teacher: Colonial’s Shelby Borst

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

It’s probably not surprising, but the students and colleagues of  2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year Shelby Borst have nothing but fluttering positivity and appreciation when talking about the educator. “It’s really easy to be good in the class when you like the teacher, and Ms. Borst makes it so that any type of student would like her, even someone …

Fixing the state's underperforming school districts is not unlike pushing a boulder up a hill.

Educators agree high absenteeism drives poor performance in 4 northern NCCo districts 

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

Delaware’s four most northern schools  – which make up four of the six largest districts in the state – have data metrics that can tell a number of stories, all of which keep parents, teachers, administrators, and even students awake at night. One story is about absenteeism. Another is about resources, another about the challenges of special student populations, and …

Improvement plans

50 Delaware schools on improvement plans to reverse poor performance

Jarek RutzHeadlines, Education

In Delaware, 50 of the First State’s 200+ schools are on state-monitored improvement plans due to consistent underachievement. There are four categories of improvement plans depending on the number of years of poor performance, student demographics, and more. “I appreciate the intent of the report, but many of the struggles in our schools come from misguided policy at the legislative …