Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (center) congratulated award winners, DFSME and Delaware STEM Council for “...being a part of the process in elevating STEM education in our state.” | |
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The 9th Annual DE STEM Educator Awards
The Delaware STEM Council and DFSME co-hosted the 9th running of the Delaware STEM Educator Awards ceremony in a hybrid format at Buena Vista in New Castle on November 9th, 2023. Throughout the evening, seven awards with accompanying cash prizes were presented to individuals and teams of educators, from across the elementary through high school levels, for their exemplary accomplishments in STEM education.
“We know that the success of our students depends on having great teachers,
so it’s critical to have teachers that inspire their students to dream big,”
Governor John Carney said. “I want to congratulate all the award winners tonight.
Thank you for all you do to keep Delaware on the cutting edge of STEM innovation.”
Delaware Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, along with Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester also visited this year’s ceremony in virtual fashion with messages of encouragement and praise for educators’ demonstrated commitment at the elementary, middle, and high school levels which continue to keep Delaware at the helm of STEM leadership.
The 2023 Delaware STEM Educator Award Winners
Krista Bivens
1st Place Elementary School, Smyrna School District
Sarah Leonard
1st Place Middle School, Appoquinimink School District
Tommie Polite
2nd Place Middle School, Seaford School District
Sharon Bourke
1st Place High School, Caesar Rodney School District
Padua Academy
Raymond Helie, Sarah Smith, Kelly Townsend
Community Educator High School
Todd Klawinski
Community Educator All Levels, Caesar Rodney School District
Padua Academy
Jon Manon STEAM Team Education Award
Science & Mathematics Depts. Interdisciplinary Team Lead by Lisa Kowalski
The awards celebration was made possible by the evening’s keynote sponsors Ashland and DuPont,
as well as supporting sponsors Agilent, LabWare, Mountaire and Walmart.
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Students at Kuumba Academy Charter School in Wilmington, DE are able to enhance academics and art skills through LabWare's generous support and donation of 400 iPads to K-8 classrooms. | LabWare Donates iPads to 3 Delaware Charter Schools | |
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This school year, LabWare committed to a generous donation of iPads to enhance students’ learning at Kuumba Academy Charter School and Freire Charter School. Kuumba and Freire each received 400 devices for their students. Another 200 iPads were donated to Great Oaks Charter School.
Mrs. Maldonado, Kuumba’s Head of School, said about the donation of 400 iPads the school received, “The iPads are being used in every K-8 classroom to support students with arts integration and academic intervention. In afterschool, our students are using the iPads to create their own news program with iMovie! Students are using the iPads to create independent portfolios using the iPads to upload work samples they are proud of in order to highlight all that they have learned. Our youngest students are practicing their fine motor skills by using the stylus. Our arts team are using the iPads to access and enhance arts and digital media instruction.”
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About LabWare
LabWare’s global team includes the most experienced laboratory informatics professionals in the world. LabWare is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, where all research and development activities take place, with an international network of over 40 offices across 6 continents. LabWare brings together the talents of chemists and biologists with those of engineers and software experts to develop products focused on the needs of laboratory users.
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Sharing STEM Equity Summit Successes:
Delaware Educators and Business Professionals
On October 13, the DFSME STEM Equity Summit brought educators and business professionals from throughout the state together once more in the shared pursuit of equity in STEM education. The STEM Equity Summit, led by the Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education (DFSME), is a key part of the Delaware Department of Education’s annual statewide professional development program centered around equity.
The success of this year’s STEM Equity Summit, entitled “What Does STEM Success Look Like from Your Fellow Colleagues?,” is thanks to the continued collaboration of many of the state’s biggest advocates for STEM equity, including DFSME, the Delaware STEM Council, the Delaware Math Coalition, the Delaware Council of Mathematics Leaders, and the Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering, Inc.), and the American Chemical Society of Delaware.
The STEM Equity Summit kicked off with teachers and administrators from across the state sharing notable stories that championed equity and shed light on strategies that ensured that their students were granted equitable access to instruction, assessments, and high-quality materials.
The STEM Equity Summit continued with the exploration of partnerships between teachers and business partners. Panel discussions outlined ambitions to strengthen support across teachers and Delaware business partners and STEM advocates to ensure student access, opportunities, deeper learning, and career preparedness.
Mini-presentations were given by leaders from DuPont, Agilent, Croda, ACS Delaware, FAME, Inc., ChristianaCare, Mountaire Farms, Bloom Energy, and Ashland.
To read the full article detailing the STEM Equity Summit by Jan Castro, click here.
To access presentations, speaker bios and the full agenda from the STEM Equity Summit, click here.
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Deadline is November 17 by 5pm!
Submissions must be sent via the Google Form at https://bit.ly/3Ck07hV
no later than 5 PM on Friday, Nov. 17, 2022.
For details of the contest including resources and helpful websites, click here.
For questions, contact Joe Iannone at dfsme.contest@gmail.com.
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Cory Hafer, a high school engineering and science teacher from the Appoquinimink School District is Delaware’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year. Photo above courtesy WDEL. Photo below courtesy Delaware Department of Education. | |
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Corey Hafer, Appoquinimink Teacher
Delaware 2024 Teacher of the Year
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Cory Hafer of Middletown High School now is Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Governor John Carney made the announcement during a Dover ceremony to honor the 20 district/charter teachers of the year.
Hafer will use his position to advocate for the importance of building student connections.
“We need to build deep connections by ensuring that all our actions help students feel welcome and supported. When students break norms, we should develop consequences with students that help them restore harm done and learn from mistakes. The grading systems we use should align with this growth mindset. Each day we need to remind our students they matter, listen to their concerns, and allow them to guide their learning,” he said. “Our ultimate goal should be to have sufficient connections with our students that they feel comfortable being themselves and confident asking for support. Without these connections, other learning strategies and efforts to develop strong lessons will not meet the needs of all learners.” >>READ MORE
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Melissa Tracy’s motto is to “think globally and act locally.” It’s no surprise then why she was recognized as a Top 10 finalist for the Global Teacher Prize. Photo courtesy ABC Channel 6 Action News. | |
Delaware Teacher Reaches Top 10 in Global Teacher Prize
By Matteo Iodonisi, Channel 6 ABC Action News
Melissa Tracy, educator from Odyssey Charter School in Wilmington, DE, understands the importance of addressing food insecurity. Growing up in California, she spent about four years living in a motel with her parents. As an educator, she experienced the lifestyles of students in India, Poland, and Thailand. And in 2005, while living in New Orleans, she was displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Tracy was inspired by the school's outdoor garden to create an indoor space where students could grow in more ways than one. And grow, it did.
"I retrofitted a traditional classroom, started to turn it into a hydroponic lab," she said. "And so, what started with a couple hundred greens in the classroom has now expanded to about 6,000 greens every month." Now, students can get hands on in Food Studies courses and produce food items that are donated to local organizations for people in need.
All of Tracy's inspiring work garnered the attention of the Global Teacher Prize, which highlights educators in countries around the world. She is, in fact, the only teacher from the United States of America in the top 10.
Tracy attended the awards ceremony with the $1 million grand prize in Paris, France, on November 8. Even though she did not win the top prize, she said she is hopeful that her message will reach other educators and students in Delaware and around the world.
"My hope is that I will empower the next generation of change agents," she said, "Students who come up with a big sustainable plant that is going to help feed our ever-growing global population."
To view the Channel 6 ABC news clip, click here.
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Dear DFSME,
I wanted to share this. It is on the NGSX electronic page when informal educators and higher education sign up for this NGSX Pathway.
We completed the DE pilot last week and now it will be going nationally.
DFMSE is making a difference not only in Delaware but across the nation!
Thank you!!!
Tonyea Mead, M.E.
Science Education Associate
Delaware Department of Education
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NGSX: State of Delaware Department of Education Collaboration
Through its Department of Education and with the leadership of State Science Associate, Tonyea Mead, NGSX has been partnering with Delaware to develop and pilot new pathway projects. Likewise, through this partnership, Delaware has developed a cadre of Science Teacher Leaders that are now facilitating many NGSX study groups throughout the state.
This partnership is a clear and productive example of a win-win collaboration.
For more information on Next Generation Science Exemplar Program website, click here.
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Delaware FFA members pose during “The Big E” award event in Springfield, MA. | |
Delaware FFA Students Take Home “The Big E” Awards
Delaware FFA members from across the state brought home national awards from The Big E in Springfield, MA, last month.
The Big E is an annual event that begins on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for 17 days. Eastern States Exposition is not owned by any specific individual or group and is organized as a
not-for-profit, educational institution under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its governing body is a volunteer Board of Trustees consisting of distinguished civic, business and agricultural leaders from each of the six New England states.
During The Big E, Delaware FFA members competed in 16 Career and Leadership Development Events as well as the Agriscience Fair. In attendance were the following Delaware FFA Chapters: Appoquinimink, Delmar, Lake Forest, Middletown, Odessa, Redding Middle, Smyrna, Smyrna Middle, Sussex Central, William Penn and Woodbridge.
Multiple teams and individuals earned top five placings.
To see a full list of the Delaware FFA results, click here: Delaware FFA Big E Results
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November’s 2023 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. Each month we highlight a 2023 Honoree.
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Deborah Grubbe, P.E. specializes in improving safety and operational performance in the chemical, oil and gas, construction, healthcare, power, and aerospace industries. She is the former Vice President of Group Safety for BP plc, and held corporate director positions in operations, engineering and safety during her 27-year career at DuPont.
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 event along with MWM-DE and the Office of the Governor, State of Delaware.
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Fellowships Advance K-12 Teachers’ Professional Development
Application Deadline: January 18, 2024
Individuals may apply for up to $5,000 & teams may apply for up to $10,000
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Fund for Teachers strengthens instruction by investing in outstanding teachers' self-determined professional growth and development in order to support student success, enrich their own practice, and strengthen their schools and communities. Fund for Teachers’ fellowships provide support for teachers’ self-designed learning experiences.
The goals of the fellowship are for educators to serve as problem solvers and innovators who create solutions to real problems of practice, reflect on their experience as a learner and transfer the most powerful aspects of their experience to student learning, integrate their experiences as fellows into their teaching to create more globally minded students, and grow as leaders and change makers. Full-time preK-12 grade teachers who spend at least 50% of their time directly providing instruction to students are eligible to apply. Applicants must have at least three years of teaching experience.
For full information on Fund for Teachers, click here.
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Engaging Students with Career
and Technical Education (CTE) Opportunities
With Discover Education
Discovery Education offers thousands of resources to engage students with high-quality CTE instructional resources, as well as STEM instructional materials and other supports to enhance programs.
Career/Workplace Skills Channel
Discover new and popular resources on careers and workplace skills. Drill down by grade level and career area to find digital resources to support your instruction.
For more information and to download the flyer, click here.
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Deadline: November 17 • 5 p.m.
The Air We Share Environmental Awareness Art Contest!
Grades 3-5! Design artwork that shows how you can make a positive impact on your
community’s air quality. Prizes awarded!
For contest details, submission process, teacher resources, and helpful websites, click here.
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January 13 • 9:30AM – 11:30AM
Exploration: Ozobots
Learn about coding a miniature line-following robot! Program this robot to react to specific
color codes as she follows mazes, maps, and racetracks that you create!
Delaware Aerospace Education Foundation (DASEF)
$6 per person
585 Big Oak Road, Smyrna, DE 19977 or call (302) 834-1978 and leave your number.
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Deadline for Entries: February 9
29th Annual New Castle County Science Fair
Start your individual or team science projects now!
Hosted by Delaware Technical Community College, Stanton Campus.
All students in grades 6-12 can participate.
For information, click here.
For questions, please send email to sw-sciencefair@dtcc.edu.
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Save the Date! February 24, 2024
Engineering Your Tomorrow (EYT)
Same day, two locations! For Middle School Girls 6th-8th Grade
This event sparks curiosity and engages love for learning through creative,
fun, hands-on activities exploring STEM/STEAM topics.
Helps students make meaningful connections with STEM professionals.
Provides exposure to female STEM role models.
Conrad Schools of Science and DelTech, Georgetown Campus.
More information to come!
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Save the Date! February 29, 2024
The 6th Annual Delaware Youth Environmental (Yes!) Summit
for All Delaware High School Students
Gauge where your school is now on the path to a greener future.
To begin your school's journey, think about your current sustainability status
and focus areas to contemplate change for your campus.
For more information about the Summit, click here.
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Save the Date! April 8, 2024
Total Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will darken a swath of North America as the Moon blocks the light
of the Sun for a few minutes on April 8, 2024. In addition to casting a breathtaking,
passing shadow over the heads of millions of people, this total solar eclipse gives
scientists a unique opportunity to study the Sun, Earth, and their interactions.
For more information and to visit NASA’s Solar System Exploration website, click here.
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Our Sponsors & Supporters | |
DFSME thanks the following organizations for contributions to STEM education in Delaware. | |
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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
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©2023 Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education
501(c)(3) Education nonprofit dealing with K-16 STEM education in Delaware schools.
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