Education in the First State
July 27, 2022
Delaware celebrates Summer of Opportunity for area students
Video: Check out how Delaware's Summer of Opportunity strategies are impacting Delaware students.

Recognizing that all students deserve opportunities for robust learning during the summer break, Delaware developed a series of strategies this year to enhance academic, social and emotional programming throughout the state.

Coined the Summer of Opportunity, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) has worked in tandem with individual school districts and charter schools to ensure that summer learning plans are in place throughout the state. Governor John Carney developed Delaware’s first-ever Governor’s Summer Fellowship Program for Delaware high school students to become paid camp counselors at community-based summer programs in each county. And DDOE launched its new Summer of Opportunity website, a searchable database to help families find school- and community-based learning opportunities for their children.
Delaware school bus drivers, aides train for upcoming school year
A Delaware school bus aide trainee learns to buckle up students on the Delaware Department of Education training bus (more pics).

The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) is training school bus drivers and aides this summer in preparation for the upcoming school year. DDOE has its own school bus housed at the Collette Education Resource Center in Dover. The bus provides regular training opportunities to both drivers and aides as another strategy for boosting the school bus throughout Delaware.

Hourly rates for drivers/aides are increasing across the board this year. To qualify to work on a Delaware school bus, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, pass all background checks, submit required paperwork and complete a training program.

Check out the steps to becoming a Delaware school bus driver/aide here.
Migrant summer school supports students, families
Students attending Delaware's migrant summer school participate in educational and emotional support experiences, including fishing in the Delaware Bay (more pics).

The Migrant Education Program’s (MEP) Summer School Project is a seven-week program (June 27 – August 12) that provides instructional and supportive services to migratory children whose parents migrate and work in agriculture in Delaware.
 
MEP is a federally funded program that supplements educational support services for migrant students. Migrant students are the school-aged children of seasonal workers traveling to Delaware each year for agricultural work. These children face unique educational barriers as a result of multiple family moves.

Many migrant families stay in Delaware through late fall before returning to their home states. During this time their children attend Delaware schools. Migrant families who choose to live in Delaware permanently continue to receive education-related support services.

The goal of MEP Summer School Project is to provide educational experiences as well as social emotional support to assist the migrant students in achieving academic success. Often these students struggle to maintain their grades, grade levels and graduation. 
 
The MEP Summer School Project is held in two locations: the Greater Milford Boys & Girls Club in Milford (46 students enrolled) and the Delaware and the Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club in Seaford, Delaware (46 students enrolled).
 
The MEP Summer School Project provides a full-day of services five days a week, Monday through Friday. Free breakfast, lunch and snacks as well as transportation services are provided daily for all the students.
 
MEP Summer School students have daily instruction in math and reading, computer lab, swimming as well as other educational and fun extra-curricular activities. Our instructors use the I-Ready Curriculum and Assessment. Students are given both a pre-assessment (to gauge where they are educationally) and a post-assessment to measure their growth. Parents are encouraged to be a part of their children’s learning experience and are invited to participate in family events.
 
This year, DDOE is very excited about the partnership we have formed with Salisbury State University and their College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP). Migrant students will spend their last week of summer school (August 8 – August 12) attending a summer enrichment program called STEAM, which will provide them with experiences in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. This also allows them to interact with other migrant students from the State of Maryland. 
2022 Delaware Teacher of the Year attends Space Camp
2022 Delaware Teacher of the Year Jahsha Tabron attended Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. earlier this month. (See more pics here and here.)

Delaware Teacher of the Year Jasha Tabron (2022) joined teacher of the year representatives from around the country at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama earlier this month.

Tabron, a high school special education teacher from Brandywine School District, represented Delaware this year as part of her 2022 celebration.

Tabron said she recognized the benefits of attending.

"I’m enjoying every moment of this amazing educational opportunity!" Tabron said. "Representing for the great state of Delaware. It’s good to be first!”

In October, the 2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year will be named. 

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.
South Dover Elementary earns national RAMP award
South Dover Elementary School Counselor Tammy Taylor accepts the ASCA RAMP award on behalf of the school and staff (more pics).

Congratulations to Capital School District's South Dover Elementary for being one of only 59 schools across the country to earn the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) award!

School Counselor Tammy Taylor accepted the award this month at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Conference in Texas.

South Dover is the second Delaware school to be recognized for this award. The school was nominated as a result of earning Delaware’s Sapphire Award for Excellence in School Counseling earlier this year.
Other Good News to Share
Delaware Department of Education | www.doe.k12.de.us