Release Date: Oct 26, 2010 1:20 PM  

--“Top” teacher to be announced tomorrow--

(Dover, DE.) – Nineteen of Delaware’s best educators representing each school district in the State have been nominated for the distinction of becoming Delaware’s State Teacher of the Year for 2011.  Seventeen women and two men were chosen by their schools and districts from nearly 8,800Delaware teachers statewide.

Governor Jack Markell will announce the 2011 Delaware Teacher of the Year on Tuesday, October 26, 2010, during the annual awards dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover.  Funding for the award ceremony is made in part by a grant from ING.

All 19 nominees were selected during the 2010 calendar year.  Basic nomination criteria included having a superior ability to inspire students with a love of learning, demonstrating professional traits, and possessing a strong sense of dedication and devotion to teaching.

After being nominated, each teacher was asked to submit a detailed portfolio exemplifying their teaching philosophy.  The portfolio was then reviewed by five “readers” from Delaware’s Department of Education (DOE).  Working independently, each reader assigned a numerical value to each portfolio.  The next step in the selection process was to conduct a formal observation of each candidate in late September.  Two observers, a former State or district Teacher of the Year and a member of the DOE staff, visited 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 selected the one teacher who will serve as the 2011 Teacher of the Year. This panel consisted of: the current State Teacher of the Year; the President of the State Congress of Parents and Teachers; representative of the State Student Council Association; a representative of the Delaware State Education Association; a representative of the State Chamber of Commerce; the Vice-President of the State Board of Education; and the Executive Director of the Professional Standards Board. 

The teacher chosen to become the State Teacher of the Year will become Delaware’s entrant in the
national program sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and ING.

The State Teacher of the Year will also take on the important task of representing all teachers in Delaware.  The individual will address community groups, business leaders, legislators, and educational organizations in 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 $5000 grant to use for the educational benefit of his or her students, as well as a personal grant of $3000.  Additionally, all nominees will receive a $2000 grant.

 The candidates are as follows:

School District	Teacher	School	Grade/Subject
Appoquinimink	Abby Shubert	Middletown High School	Grade 11 English
Brandywine	Barbara Stein Rosen	Maple Lane Elementary School	Grade 5
Caesar Rodney	Catherine DiBenedetto	Caesar Rodney High School	Grades 9-12 Agriscience
Cape Henlopen	Kathryn DelCampo	Mariner Middle School	Grade 8 Mathematics
Capital	Melissa White	Central Middle School	Grade 8 Mathematics
Christina	Joyce Nerlinger	Albert H. Jones Elementary School	Grades K-5 Art
Colonial	Beth Greenstein	William Penn High School	Grades 9-12 English to Speakers of Other Languages; English
Delmar	Lorrie Sonnier	Delmar High School	Grade 12 English
Indian River	Marjorie Worrell	Indian River High School	Grade 9 English
Lake Forest	Pamela Sheldon	Lake Forest South Elementary School	Grades K-3 Visual Arts
Laurel	Christina Gallo	Laurel High School	Grades 9-10 Social Studies
Milford	Amanda Parisi	Milford High School	Grades 9-12 English as a Second Language
NCCVT	Kelly Bench	Paul M. Hodgson Vo-Tech High School	Grades 9-10 Social Studies
POLYTECH	Edward Bittner	POLYTECH High School	Grades 10-12 Social Studies
Red Clay	Joseph Masiello	Cab Calloway School of the Arts	Grade 6 English
Seaford	Courtney White	Central Elementary School	Grade 2
Smyrna	Mandi Wilson	North Smyrna Elementary School	Grade 3
Sussex Tech	Sandra Furbush	Sussex Technical High School	Grades 9-12 Social Studies
Woodbridge	Mikki Madden	Phillis Wheatley Middle School	Grade 5

MEDIA NOTE:  The Department of Education (DOE) has posted black and white images of all 19 candidates on its website.  The images can then be used by the media for print purposes.  The link is as follows: http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/students_family/toy/tpix/teachers2011_public.shtml

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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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