Education in the First State |
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A message from Delaware's new education secretary |
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Delaware's new Secretary of Education Mark Holodick speaks earlier this month at the New Castle County Combined School Boards meeting (watch online).
Editor's Note: The following pieces is written by Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Holodick, who was recently confirmed as secretary by the Delaware Senate.
Over the past three months, as I awaited the Senate confirmation hearing to become Secretary of Education, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with and hear from many Delawareans and stakeholders. Through my position at the University of Delaware as a senior leadership specialist, as a friend of many teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators, and as the father of three public school daughters, I’ve listened to educators, families, DSEA leadership, elected officials, business leaders, and students. I've learned a lot. I recognize quite clearly that perspectives around many issues vary.
One goal that everyone agreed on and unequivocally supported was the need to improve opportunities and outcomes for ALL children. On this, I dug deep and pushed hard. I asked the question: Are all of our children being afforded opportunities to experience a first-class education? The answer was consistent in every conversation. Even when people were satisfied, even more than satisfied, regarding their own child, they acknowledged it wasn’t the case for all. I agreed, and the data we’ve collected over many years confirms this is so.
In most of those conversations, I was asked what I planned on doing about it and what things I saw as priorities if confirmed. Until recently, I was still determining my answer. I now have a response that has been informed by the feedback I received.
First and foremost, it’s critically important that we continue to address the many challenges the current pandemic poses to the operations of our schools. The health, safety, and well-being of our students are paramount, and the best way to make sensible decisions around everything having to do with COVID-19 starts with being well-informed. I will collaborate with and listen to others such as the Governor and his team members, Division of Public Health officials, superintendents, charter school heads, Department of Education colleagues, Delaware State Education Association leaders, school board members, educators, and student leadership organization representatives to gather as much data and information as possible so that we, as a department, can effectively support schools. Being well-informed allows us to make thoughtful decisions in the best interest of all. While those decisions may not always be popular, they will be transparent, and the communication of those decisions will be clear and intentional.
Throughout this pandemic everyone has suffered in many ways. In some cases, folks have experienced tremendous loss. Our department recognizes this and will lead with understanding and empathy. The social, emotional, and academic toll is real and significant. To meet the needs of our students and staff, we will need to think differently from the past. Innovation, restructuring, modernization, and other approaches to creating a “new normal” in our system will be required. The department will support schools and districts in an effort to create opportunities for sharing best practices, through collaborative projects and initiatives, to support all students. Timely interventions will be necessary, but for long-term and lasting improvement, systems changes will be required. And again, the department is ready to support and lead these efforts.
Improving opportunities and outcomes for children in our lowest performing schools is a priority. Kudos to Governor Carney and his team for the work they have been doing to establish a Learning Collaborative among the elementary and middle schools in Wilmington. Through a community-based governing board, targeted support will be provided to the participating elementary and middle schools in the city. At the heart of the plan is educator, student, family and community empowerment, operational flexibility, and cross-district collaboration. While struggling schools exist in all three of our counties, the greatest concentration of long-term underperformance is in our largest city. As a former superintendent of a district that served Wilmington, I know it is not due to a lack of interest, effort, or desire. It is a capacity, systems, and governance issue that can only be improved with a laser-like focus on those specific schools. My staff and I will provide all the support possible to enhance opportunities and outcomes for the children who attend those schools.
Early childhood education (prenatal through 5 years old) is another critically important topic. With the prospect of Build Back Better and federal support for improvements in early childhood services, we must be prepared to utilize resources, plan effectively, improve services, and support our staff and providers. Investing in early childhood helps to proactively, not reactively, address many educational and societal challenges we struggle with as a state. By wisely and effectively investing early, we save in the later years. I look forward to working with many different groups of people, agencies, organizations, and departments to plan and implement practices and policies that improve opportunities and outcomes for our youngest learners.
Needless to say, there are many other critically important topics and issues that need to be addressed. Goals such as diversifying our educational workforce, recruiting and retaining strong educators and leaders, and increasing inclusive practices come to mind. As does revising an outdated funding system, improving our third-grade reading and eighth-grade math performance, and increasing the number of kids involved in co-curricular and extracurricular activities. The department and I will address those topics in future articles. Each of these requires not only our attention but also collaboration and a willingness to approach everything we do with the interest of all children in mind. We all agree that one of the pillars of a strong and healthy local community is its public school system. A strong Delaware requires a strong and healthy public school system.
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Governor Carney delivers 2022 State of the State address |
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State of the State excerpt regarding education:
“Over the past few months, I’ve been focused on making sure we finally deliver for the children of the City of Wilmington. Despite the best efforts of teachers and administrators, children in our largest city are not getting the education they need to be successful in life. We can do better – and we must. These children and their families deserve our best efforts. Over the last month, I’ve knocked doors and talked directly to parents and students. I know they’re eager for change. They want better. I’ve talked to, and heard from, educators in our City schools. The idea of the Wilmington Learning Collaborative is based on models we’ve seen be successful in other parts of the country. We’re asking districts that serve our students in the city – Red Clay, Brandywine, and Christina – to work together on behalf of these children. This model will place more decision-making in the hands of educators and local communities. And it’ll offer more support for students, families, and importantly the teachers in the classroom. It will place a hyper focus on these students and the challenges they face. It doesn’t solve every problem, to be sure. We will continue to work with Senator Lockman and the Redding Consortium to focus on issues around redistricting and the high school challenge for city students. These are certainly important issues. But we can’t let those issues hold us up. We can’t afford to wait. And we can’t afford to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Please join me in finally doing right by these children.”
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Governor urges families, boards to support Wilmington partnership |
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Governor John Carney has been knocking on doors in Wilmington, inviting families to community meetings, hearing from them about their educational experiences, and telling them about a new plan called the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.
The Wilmington Learning Collaborative, a voluntary network of schools in Wilmington across multiple school districts, is a partnership among city schools to work together on behalf of Wilmington children. The collaborative's goal is to empower educators and communities who know best what city students need. Ultimately, members of the collaborative will hyper focus on the challenges facing Wilmington students and educators, create consistency, and improve outcomes for students. The collaborative model is already working in other states.
Earlier this month, Governor Carney sent a letter to members of the Christina, Red Clay, and Brandywine boards of education, urging them to support moving forward with negotiations to create the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.
“Unfortunately, we know City students are not getting the education they need and deserve," the letter read. "We have much work to be done to ensure all of our third graders are reading on grade level, to set them up for future academic success. Wilmington children, families, and educators need additional support. I stand ready to offer that support – and I hope you’ll join me.”
Governor Carney is proposing to add $14 million in additional resources to help low-income students, much of which stems from recommendations from the Redding Consortium. Half of that funding will go toward putting the Redding Consortium recommendations into the operating budget, and the other half will go specifically to schools that join the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.
On January 11, 2022, members of the Christina School Board voted in favor of taking the next step on the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.
“I believe city educators are doing everything within their power to help our children succeed," Carney said. "They need our support. I know you feel the same way. That’s what this plan is about: empowering educators on the ground and giving them support they need to improve outcomes for our children who need our help the most.”
Visit de.gov/wlc to learn more about the Wilmington Learning Collaborative. Also check out Governor Carney's virtual visit of models similar to the Wilmington Learning Collaborative. The visit includes conversations with educators, school and district leaders, board members, and community leaders in places like Springfield, Fort Worth, and Denver.
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Assistant Principal Academy graduates first cohort of leaders |
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Cohort 1 (pictured above with program directors) graduated on December 16, 2021. Cohort 2 will launch later this month.
The inaugural cohort of some of the state's most highly distinguished assistant principals graduated this month from Delaware's Assistant Principal Academy program.
The program, administered under the Governor's Institute for School Leadership (GISL), is a year-long professional learning opportunity that develops assistant principals into transformational building-level principals. The academy consists of five modules of instruction aligned to Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), and includes coaching by University of Delaware's Academy for School Leadership (DASL) as well as practice-based mentorships with successful building principals.
This year's fellows were chosen for the program during a selective application process. Cohort 2 will launch this Friday. Participants will then take part in weekend retreats that begin February 25 and continue monthly through 2022.
GISL is a partnership between the Delaware Governor's Office, Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), University of Delaware's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), and local school districts and charter schools.
Congratulations to this year's Assistant Principal Academy graduates!
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Jenna Argo – Indian River School District
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Mabel Boutte – Christina School District
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Trina Giles – Laurel School District
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Diana Golden – Brandywine School District
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Sarah Green – Indian River School District
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Holly Langley – Sussex Vo-Tech School District
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Tammy McDermott – New Castle County Vo-Tech School District
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Lenita McIntyre – Capital School District
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L’Tanya Morrow-Cain – Appoquinimink School District
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Tina Pinkett – Capital School District
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Alvin Pope – Christina School District
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Nathalie Princilus – Christina School District
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DDOE welcomes Student Success ambassadors |
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DDOE's Delaware Higher Education Office is pleased to welcome ten (10) student interns from six high schools and two colleges as part of the Delaware Student Success (DSS) Ambassadors program.
The DSS Ambassadors program gives students a seat at the table when educational reform and equitable conversations take place throughout the school year. Students will engage with various stakeholders, elevate student engagement and ensure messaging from the Office of Higher Education is made by students, for students.
Please welcome:
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Fanta Barry - St. George's Technical School
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Adia Bracy - American University
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Nithila Chrisostam - Appoquinimink High School
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Dayana Garzon Lagos - University of Delaware
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Caroline Graham - Delaware Military Academy
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Kabamata Kargbo - William Penn High School
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Ailyn Lopez - Hodgson Vo-Tech High School
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Daniel Moffit - Appoquinimink High School
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Brianna Tran - Conrad Schools of Science
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Grace Umoren-Udo - Appoquinimink High School
Check out the students' biographies for more information.
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Delaware Department of Education | www.doe.k12.de.us
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