Celebrating EARTH DAY 2023

In this issue, DFSME celebrates a collaborative effort between

STEM educators, advocates, and leaders from across the state to recognize Earth Day 2023. We’ve gathered news and events that encompass Earth, Watershed, Climate Change, Agriculture and Environment for educators to share with their students, colleagues and friends. Celebrate!



– Randy Guschl, Executive Director

Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

Melissa Tracy, the DFSME Seed Grant lead, has demonstrated her passion for service and dedication by taking steps to ensure success for younger generations. She was one of 10 charter school teachers in America to win the 2022 Changemaker Award. The award, presented by The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, is given to individuals who positively influence their charter school, bring innovation and creativity to solve problems, and consistently lift voices around them. 

Melissa teaches the Food Studies career pathway where she educates students about food through the lens of culture, environment, power and history. The program also provides students an opportunity to work in Odyssey’s Hydroponic Learning Lab.

For more information about courses currently offered in the Food Studies CTE Pathway at Odyssey Charter School, click here.



The University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment (CEOE) was awarded a two-year, $1.3 million grant from NOAA to fund a program to make Delaware a leading national center in the application and development of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and workforce development in support of advancing the Blue Economy. Photos courtesy Evan Krape.

Project ABLE to Advance Technology and

Workforce Development to Enhance “Blue Economy”

For as many technological advances as humanity has made over the years, one area where our understanding is noticeably lacking is with regard to the world’s oceans. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), more than 80% of the planet Earth’s oceans remain unmapped, unobserved and unexplored. 

UD’s College of Earth, Ocean and Environment (CEOE) was awarded a two-year, $1.3 million grant by NOAA to fund a project to make Delaware a leading national center in the application and development of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and workforce development in support of advancing the “Blue Economy”. 

Specifically, Project ABLE (Align, Build, Leverage and Expand) will “ignite the advancement of a BlueTech center of excellence in Sussex County,” according to its website. But it will also focus on advancing and developing robotic systems for offshore research and monitoring – particularly in the offshore wind development industry. 

The University of Delaware is preparing to train the ocean workforce of the next generation as well as test new sensors and marine robotics to further humanity’s understanding of the world’s oceans and improve environmental monitoring, defense and energy applications.



Project Align, Build, Leverage and Expand (Project ABLE) is a collaboration between Delaware State University and the UD Center for Autonomous and Robotic Systems. 

The Delaware General Assembly will Recognize

June 9 as Delaware Freshwater Wetlands Day!

Get Students Started Now in the Freshwater Wetlands Art & Essay Contests!

June 9th, 2023 will be recognized as Delaware Freshwater Wetlands Day as a celebration of various community science projects and an awards ceremony recognizing the student winners of the Art and Essay Contests. Prizes will be given to first, second and third place in elementary, middle and high school in each county (Kent, Sussex, and New Castle County). Winners will be invited to a special ceremony at Fred Fifer III Middle School (Caesar Rodney School District).

Delaware Freshwater Wetlands | ESSAY CONTEST FOR STUDENTS

All essays must be submitted online by May 1, 2023

🌎 Elementary School (grades 3-5): Write an an essay that supports three ways you and your family could conserve and protect freshwater wetlands and why. Include at least three references that you used as sources for your information.

🌎 Middle School (grades 6-8): Write an essay that supports why freshwater wetlands are important to Delaware. Use multiple resources to develop your essay that are listed in a bibliography. This essay should be at least 500 words with bibliography.

🌎 High School (grades 9-12): How do human activities affect freshwater wetlands? Provide specific examples. Provide several solutions that could improve or restore DE’s freshwater wetlands. This essay should be at least 1,000 words and must include a bibliography.

For more info, teacher lessons and other activities, click here.

Send Essay Contest submissions to Tonyea.mead@doe.k12.de.us.

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Delaware Freshwater Wetlands | ART CONTEST FOR STUDENTS

All artwork must be submitted to District Offices, Main Offices by May 1, 2023

🌎 Students are asked to create a 2-D work of art to help celebrate our increased awareness of the importance of our Freshwater Wetlands in Delaware.

🌎 Students can chose medium (watercolor, colored pencil, chalk, etc.). Art may be no larger than 11x17 (8.5x11 or 11x17 preferred). Artwork will be judged on creativity, attractiveness and theme. 

🌎 Artwork will be displayed at DDOE from May 8th-June 8th and posted online at the project website.

Click here to download the contest flyer. Read submission instructions closely.

Note: Only 10 submissions per school.

 Supporting Students in Climate Science,

Climate Change and Solutions

DNREC Workshop April 26 • Register by Friday, April 21

What does Delaware DNREC’s Climate Change Action Plan say, and how can it be integrated into your classroom through phenomena? This virtual workshop is open to ALL K-12th grade teachers who have an interest in climate change. Climate change isn’t just for science teachers!

Registration: Sign up through PDMS, Course #31472

Sponsored by Delaware Dept. of Education, NOAA, and UD Sea Grant

DFSME’s March “Shining Light Award”

Honors Katie Purse, Mathematics Educator

This month’s DFSME Shining Light Award honors Katie Purse. Katie currently teaches 3rd grade at Seaford Central Elementary School. She engages students in high-quality, rich tasks that promote thinking and reasoning in her students, and embraces the many different pathways her learners take to solve problems.

Katie has taken on many leadership roles within her school and the Seaford School district. She is member of the Lead Math Teach Team, where she works to create a vision for mathematics across the district. She is also participating in Learning Lab with Amplify Learning. Through this experience she has partnered with the lead curriculum writer for Illustrative Mathematics, and currently creating video lessons to share with other teachers who wish to grow in their practice.

Katie’s passion is in preparing students to be courageous problem solvers with life-long skills that will allow them to be competitive in a changing world. She is positive in her belief that we can make a difference in our students’ lives.

Katie’s exemplary highlights include Teacher of the Year (2022-2023) at Seaford Central Elementary School.

We are pleased to recognize Katie Purse as a superlative educator!

Katie was nominated by Christa Ferdig, Curriculum & Instructional Specialist, Seaford School District.

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Anyone can Nominate a Shining Light Educator!

Who will YOU Nominate?

Every day in classrooms, Delaware educators quietly go about enabling young learners

to be informed citizens in an increasingly complex world. They prepare their students to be competitive in the ever-changing global workforce and to be problem-solvers of the next generation. Honorees receive a $100 gift card and a mini heavy-duty mag flashlight.

For "easy-to-nominate" details, visit us at dfsme.org/shining-light-award.

Email completed form to drses48@aol.com or Michelle.Kutch@bsd.k12.de.us.

Appoquinimink “STEM Showcase” at Odessa High School

On March 25th, Appoquinimink School District hosted the inaugural STEM Showcase at Odessa High School. The event marked the first time all elementary schools in the district held their science fairs at the same time and place. More than 1,500 students, parents, teachers and business volunteers engaged in science activities and toured displays. Scott Irwin, Appoquinimink chemistry teacher, and a few AP Chemistry students demonstrated a chemistry show for the crowd.

Colonial School District’s 7th Annual STEAM Showcase

Colonial School District’s STEAM Leadership Team invited the community to attend the 7th Annual STEAM Showcase held on April 4th at William Penn High School. Students and teachers promoted the connections between Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.

The event featured opportunities for students, families and the community to participate in interactive activities including student-led STEAM projects from all grade levels, course explorations within the STEM College at William Penn, technology-infused learning experiences and more.

Helping Students Celebrate Black History Month

with Science and STEM

By Mrs. Leona Williams, 4th Grade Teacher, Forwood Elementary School

As a teacher that works toward STEM Equity in my classroom and school, I was excited to bring Jackie Means, The STEM Queen, to Forwood Elementary as part of our Black History Month celebration. We study the contributions of many Black American historical figures in school.

Discovering how Jacqueline Means started the Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative to provide girls with learning opportunities when she was 12 years old and seeing her as a young adult engaging them in science offered our students an opportunity to experience a present-day role model making history. Students met a strong female Black role model that inspired them with science and STEM and showed them the importance of lifting up others.

April’s Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM Honoree

Delaware’s (Un)Hidden Figures

At the Proclamation Signing on March 28, Million Women Mentors Delaware (MWM-DE) marked the occasion by announcing the 2023 Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM honorees. This annual recognition celebrates the groundbreaking achievements of these Delaware women in STEM, as well as illuminate the many STEM career paths for Delaware girls.

Ruth Cook Redding, D.O., doctor and math teacher (1916-2006) is Delaware Women in STEM honoree for April, 2023. A graduate of the Philadelphia School of Osteopathy, Dr. Redding began practicing medicine in Wilmington before age 23. By choice, she switched careers and became a dedicated mathematics teacher in Philadelphia and West Chester schools. Her noteable honors and achievements include Phi Beta Kappa, Hunter College; First Cohort of Fulbright Scholars, London School of Economics; and Founder of Project Homework.

Million Women Mentors is the premier network dedicated to encouraging girls and women around the world to pursue, persist and succeed in STEM careers. The Delaware STEM Council and DFSME are partners in the proclamation along with MWM-DE and the Office of the Governor, State of Delaware.

Delaware Afterschool Network (DEAN)

Celebrates STEM Afterschool Professionals

By Regina Sidney-Brown, Director of the Delaware Afterschool Network and

Chair of the IRMC Extended Learning Opportunities Subcommittee

April 25th through April 29th is Afterschool Professional Appreciation Week! Afterschool Appreciation Week recognizes those who work with youth during out-of-school hours. The week is commemorated by celebrations and efforts to encourage people to thank afterschool professionals who make a difference in the lives of young people in their communities.

In the last decade, one of the most notable transformations in the S.T.E.M. educational landscape is the rise of the out-of-school-time sector as a leading provider of S.T.E.M. enrichment. We know that afterschool programs have become more than just childcare and are credited with enhancing academic and life outcomes for the youth they serve. High-quality O.S.T. programs provide young people with rich, engaging learning experiences, coupling S.T.E.M. concepts with hands-on activities that foster youth voice and choice and apply S.T.E.M. to real-world social contexts.

We want to celebrate all STEM-related programs and staff! To read the full article by Regina Sidney-Brown, click here.

Requests for Proposals are Being Accepted!

DFSME 2023 Seed Grants

Submission Deadline: Friday, April 28 at 5 p.m.

DFSME provides Seed Grants each year for innovative programs that support our mission and vision. The awards generally range from $1,000 to $5,000.



For more information and details, click here.

Discovery Education is teaming up with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) to bring classrooms the opportunity to connect with real-world engineers this Earth Day week to celebrate Earth Day through virtual classroom drop-ins. These 30-minute virtual visits introduce your students to real engineers as problem-solvers for good, who will demonstrate how they use the engineering design process and diverse teams to develop the best possible solution for the challenge ahead. 

To sign up for this DE & ASME virtual classroom visit experience, click here.

 April 22 • Earth Day! • 8am - 11am

Christina River Watershed Cleanup

Celebrate Earth Day by volunteering for the 31st Annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup!

Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site’s Cooch-Dayett Mill, 904 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, DE.

Other New Castle County sites also available. Space is limited and registration required.

Hosted by Junior Achievement of Delaware, DNREC, Christina Conservancy, Delaware Estuary

For information, call Junior Achievement at 302-307-2757 or click here.

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April 22 • Earth Day! • 1pm

Celebrate Earth Day "BEE AWARE!"

New Castle native, Thomas Lunt, owner of Ft. Casimir Honey Co. and Apiary,

will speak on the importance of bees in the ecosystem and the need to save these pollinators.

Delaware Division of Historical and Cultural Affairs’ New Castle Court House Museum

211 Delaware St., New Castle, 302-323-4453 or email NCCHmuseum@delaware.gov.

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April 25-29

Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week 2023

Recognize, appreciate and advocate for those who work with young people

during out-of-school hours. An estimated 10.2 million children participate in afterschool

programs each year. Now more than ever is the time to promote

afterschool programs and thank their devoted staff!

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April 26

GM STEM Day: Come Dream with Us

Learn about how GM develops vehicles, meet influential contacts in STEM fields at GM

to boost your knowledge for highly technical jobs and the automotive industry.

Hosted by Junior Achievement of Delaware, 522 Walnut Street, Wilmington, DE 19801.

For more information and to register your students, click here.

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May 1 • 9am-2:30pm

STEM Goes Red Delaware

American Heart Association strives to open doors for girls to bring them into

health sciences careers and improve opportunities for underserved girls in Delaware.

Clayton Hall Conference Center, University of Delaware

For more information, click here.

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May 9

National Teacher Appreciation Day

National Teacher Appreciation Day is a day to honor those incredible professionals

who create an everlasting impact on our own lives and those of our children.

For National Teachers Day activities, click here.

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May 20 • Noon-5pm

DASEF Planet Earth Family Day

Hosted by the Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation.

Explore Earth and it’s place in the universe.

For more information, click here.

To register for the event, click here.

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June 20-July 27 • 8am-3pm Daily

FAME Summer 2023 STEM Programs

Registration is now open for Summer 2023 Academic Programs!

All rising students grades 1-12 are welcome to apply. 

Limited breakfast, lunch and transportation provided.

For more information and to apply, click here.

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July 18-20 • 9am-4pm Daily

Delaware Tech Energy Institute for STEM Educators

Teachers will be paid a $600 stipend for participation in all three days.

Space is available on a first-come first-served basis, so apply now!

The Energy Institute will include data analysis, energy efficiency and solar photovoltaics.

For more information and to apply, click here.

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Save the Date! October 13, 2023

Delaware Mathematics & STEM Equity Conferences

A powerful day of professional learning dedicated to Equity in Math and STEM.

Hosted by the Delaware Mathematics Coalition, Delaware Department of Education,

Delaware STEM Council, DFSME, and FAME, Inc.

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Save the Date! November 9, 2023

The 9th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards Ceremony

Applications are being Accepted NOW!

Live Zoom Videocast from Buena Vista Country Estate in New Castle, Delaware

Co-hosted by Delaware STEM Council and DFSME, the event announces winners at the

Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School (9-12) levels, the

Community Educator Award, the Jon Manon STEAM Team Educator Award and more!

For more information, click here.

DFSME thanks the following organizations for contributions to STEM education in Delaware.

STEM Legacy

DuPont | LabWare

STEM Heritage

Ashland | Mountaire | Verizon

STEM Sustainer

Bloom Energy

STEM Network

Agilent Technologies | America Chemical Society | Croda | Delmarva Power an Exelon Company

STEM Friends

Delaware Math Coalition | Delaware STEM Council | Wilmington Urban STEM Initiative

STEM Gifts in Kind

Beebe Healthcare | Chesapeake Utilities | Christiana Care | Corteva Agriscience | Cyber Streets

Delaware Department of Education | Delaware Design Company | Delaware Technical Community College Delaware Nature Society | DelawareBio | Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

EDiS | FAME, Inc. | Junior Achievement | Million Women Mentors | Spekciton Biosciences LLC

Stroud Water Research Center | University of Delaware | Whisman Giordano & Associates

Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education

100 W. 10th Street, Suite 612 

Wilmington, DE 19801 

Tel: 302.397.0034 | Fax: 302.397.0036 

Email: anne.dfsme@gmail.com

www.dfsme.org