Ever since we first created iEducate Delaware, our recognition initiative that honors outstanding Delawareans’ contributions to public education, we have received a flood of stories about people who are making outstanding contributions to public education in our communities. iEducate honors a broad range of individuals: teachers, community leaders, parents, school board members, principals, legislators, school support staff, administrators, students, and on and non.

We created iEducate Delaware three years ago with the goal that their work will grow and inspire others. Since then, we’ve honored 31 people, 10 of whom received a financial award in their honor, and had their stories promoted broadly.

Now is your chance to make sure that deserving Delawareans are recognized. Please take two minutes to submit your nominations on www.ieducatedelaware.org. We will be accepting nominations through Friday, January 23rd, so please help us spread the word by telling your neighbors, friends, and colleagues about this opportunity.

 

 

We’re excited to announce that nominations of education champions are now being accepted on www.ieducatedelaware.org. Two years ago, we created iEducate Delaware to shed some light on Delawareans who are quietly transforming students’ lives, with the hope that others in our state will be inspired to do the same. Once again, iEducate Delaware will honor outstanding Delawareans’ contributions to public education with the goal that their work will grow and inspire others!

Please start sharing with us names of parents, principals, community-based organization staff, teachers, school support staff, volunteers, administrators, legislators, community leaders, school board members, and others who you would like to nominate. You can even nominate yourself! If someone is helping our students learn and achieve, make sure that you nominate them. To help inspire you, you can read about iEducate Delaware finalists and Honorees from 2012 and 2013.

We look forward to hearing from you, learning about outstanding contributions to education in our state!

Our youngest learners are getting a stronger start through an expansion of higher-quality early learning programs. The drop-out rate is at a 30-year low. Every student who is ready for college, is applying to college, and 98% are enrolling. More high school students are taking–and passing–Advanced Placement courses than ever before.

Delaware has many reasons to be proud of recent education achievements in the state. These efforts have resulted in real, dramatic life trajectory changes for many Delaware students (to learn about one of these stories, read this The New York Times article). However, we know that this is not a reality for too many students in our state. Achievement gaps have been persistent. Too many students don’t have the educational opportunities that they deserve.

The Vision Coalition* recognizes these accomplishments and challenges, and is developing A Vision for Education in Delaware in 2025 (ED25 for short), a plan to better prepare Delaware students for a lifetime of success.

This Saturday, the Coalition is hosting a conversation specifically for current 7th through 12th grade students and recent high school graduates to share their educational experiences and aspirations for themselves and their communities to the Coalition leadership. The conversation will be at the Wilmington Public Library from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, and lunch will be provided. The feedback shared at this conversation will be used to develop the final plan, which will be released in early 2015.

The conversation will be facilitated by:

• Chandlee Kuhn, Chief Judge, Family Court of Delaware, and Vision Coalition Steering Committee member
• Raye Jones Avery, Executive Director of the Christina Cultural Arts Center, and Vision Coalition Leadership Team member
• Melissa Tracy, social studies educator, Conrad Schools of Science

We all agree how important students’ perspectives, ideas, and opinions are to the development of this plan. Please take 5 minutes and help spread word about this event to students, parents, and teachers who can encourage students to attend. RSVPs are requested to info@vision2015delaware.org.

*Paul Herdman, Rodel Foundation’s President and CEO, serves on the Vision Coalition’s Leadership Team. Due to his role, I provide staff support to the Vision Coalition, coordinating and promoting these types of meetings.

We are excited to announce the 2014-15 year of iEducate Delaware! Two years ago, we created iEducate Delaware to shed some light on Delawareans who are quietly transforming students’ lives, with the hope that others in our state will be inspired to do the same. Once again, iEducate Delaware will honor outstanding Delawareans’ contributions to public education with the goal that their work will grow and inspire others!

We encourage you to start thinking of parents, principals, community-based organization staff, teachers, school support staff, volunteers, administrators, legislators, community leaders, school board members, and others who you would like to nominate. You can even nominate yourself! If someone is helping our students learn and achieve, make sure that you nominate them! We will be kicking off our nomination period on September 8 and accepting nominations on our website through October 31.

From your nominations, we will select fifteen finalists for you to vote for from November to early January. Five iEducate Honorees will then be named later that month.

We will be in touch again as soon as the nomination window opens, so stay tuned for more information!