Release Date: Jun 20, 2003 1:00 AM  

“Top” Teacher to Be Announced in October

Dover, Del.–June 20, 2003 Nineteen of Delaware’s best educators representing each school district in the State have been nominated for the distinction of becoming Delaware’s Teacher of the Year for 2004. The 14 women and 5 men were chosen by their school districts from nearly 7,500 Delaware teachers statewide.

Delaware’s Teacher of the Year for 2004 will be announced by Governor Ruth Ann Minner at the annual awards dinner to be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2003, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Inn and Conference Center in Dover.

All 19 school districts selected their Teacher of the Year candidate during the 2002-2003 school year.Basic criteria for being nominated included a superior ability to inspire students with a love of learning, demonstrating professional traits, and possessing a strong sense of dedication and devotion to their profession.

Since their nomination each district teacher has been asked to submit a detailed portfolio of work and philosophy which will be reviewed by five “readers” from Delaware’s Department of Education (DOE). Working independently,each reader will then assign a numerical value to each portfolio. The next step in the selection process is to conduct a formal observation of each candidate, which is scheduled for late September. Two observers, a former State or district Teacher of the Year and a DOE employee, will visit each candidate’s classroom to conduct the observation.

Finally, based on the scores assigned to the portfolios as well as classroom observations,another independent panel of judges will select the one teacher who will serve as the 2004 Teacher of the Year.This panel will consist of representatives from the State Board of Education, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce,the Delaware Association of Student Councils, the Delaware Congress of Parents and Teachers, and the past three State Teachers of the Year.

The teacher chosen to become the State Teacher of the Year will become Delaware’s entrant in the national programsponsored by the Council of Chief State School officers and Scholastic, Inc.

The State Teacher of the Year will take on the important task of representing all teachers in Delaware.The individual will address community groups, business leaders, legislators, and educational organizationsin an effort to inform the public about the status of Delaware schools.

By action of the General Assembly, the State Teacher of the Year will receive a $5,000 grant to use for the educational benefitof his or her students, as well as a personal grant of $3,000. Additionally, all school district candidates receive a $2,000 grantfor use in their educational field.

All candidates, listed alphabetically by school district, grade(s) taught, school and location, are as follows:

School District	Teacher	School	Grade/Subject
Appoquinimink	David Maloney	Middletown H.S.	Mathematics
Brandywine	Kelly Eckert-Bradley	Mount Pleasant H.S.	Mathematics/Computer Science
Caesar Rodney	Michael Kijowski	Fred Fifer Middle	Grade 6 Mathematics
Cape Henlopen	Lisa A. Bayko	Richard Shields Elementary	Grades 1-3 Intensive Learning Center
Capital	Crystal E. Thompkins	Towne Point Elementary	Grade 2
Christina	Karen A. Valentine	McVey Elementary	Kindergarten
Colonial	Deborah E. Phillips	Southern Elementary	Grade 2
Delmar	Karen W. Lewis	Delmar Middle & Senior H.S.	Middle School Intensive Learning Center
Indian River	Mary Norton	North Georgetown Elementary	Grades 3-5 ESL
Lake Forest	Melody A. Miller	Lake Forest East Elementary	Kindergarten
Laurel	Jodi F. Green	North Laurel Elementary	Grade 4
Milford	Ethel M. White	Lulu M. Ross Elementary	Grade 3
NCCo Vo-Tech	Nicholas J. Mottola	Hodgson Vo-Tech H.S.	Grades 9-12 Culinary Arts
POLYTECH	Michael Sampere	POLYTECH H.S.	Grade 9 Social Studies
Red Clay Consolidated	Jill Joos	Linden Hill Elementary	Grade 5
Seaford	Alison Perdue-Tingle	Blades Elementary	Grade 4
Smyrna	Amy C. Musto	Clayton Elementary	Grade 3
Sussex Technical	Christopher L. Aiken	Sussex Technical H.S.	Grades 9,11,12 Principles of Technology Grades 11,12 Physics Grade 9 Integrated Science
Woodbridge	Rita Hovermale	Woodbridge Senior H.S.	Grades 9-12 Early Childhood Education

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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