Welcome to this special issue dedicated to TEACHERS!

In this issue we’ve rounded up lots of valuable information to help our hard working Delaware educators!

This includes funding through Seed Grants and Mini Grants; teacher recognition like our Shining Light Awards, Delaware STEM Educator Awards; and our many Teacher Resources. The Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education (DFSME) has been supporting Delaware's educators and the enhancement of Delaware's education system for nearly three decades.

The DFSME Board and leadership are sincere in thanking you for your ongoing efforts.

You might not hear it every day, but people are thinking it every day: Thank you!

– Randy Guschl, Executive Director

Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

DFSME 2023 Seed Grants

Proposals Are Now Being Accepted! • Deadline: April 28, 2023 by 5 p.m.

DFSME provides seed grants each year for innovative programs that support our mission and vision and are suited to standards-based STEM education for Delaware teachers and students. Announcing proposals are now being accepted for DFSME Seed Grants 2023. Teachers, administrators, and community education groups may apply. Seed Grant Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Seed Grants are designed to provide a portion of the costs of a program that either is new or that replicates a successful program in a new geographic area or for a new population.

Preferred programs are research-driven, produce measurable outcomes and data that can be shared and, if successful, can be adopted by others and become self-sustaining. If a program is proposed by a private school or agency, the program must be open to participants from public schools.

Please submit a proposal of no more than five pages.

Deadline: April 28, 2023 by 5 p.m.

For more details, click here.

To download guidelines, click here.

For more information, questions or to send completed proposals, email anne.dfsme@gmail.com.

Short on Funding for Your Student Projects?

Apply for DFSME Mini Grants with only a few paragraphs!

What is the purpose of DFSME Mini Grants? 

DFSME will fund the costs of a variety of projects which are not funded by districts or agencies. The gap created by this lack of funding means that these costs often are paid by teachers and participants. These grants are designed to bridge that gap.

What kinds of funding will DFSME consider?

DFSME will consider paying the cost of experts or agencies with special STEM programs or demonstrations, materials required for students to participate in classroom or club demonstrations or activities, subscriptions, registration fees, conference fees, technology or software, and other STEM-related supplemental costs. DFSME will consider reimbursing funds already spent as well as funding projects yet to happen.

Who can apply?

K-12 STEM teachers, community STEM educators, student STEM groups in Delaware.

How much can be requested?

DFSME Mini Grants generally range from $100 to $500. DFSME will require substantiation of the amount requested.

When can we apply?

There is no deadline for mini grant applications; they are accepted throughout the year.

How do we apply?

The application process is fairly simple. You only need to submit a few paragraphs covering the following items:

• Who are you and what is your affiliation?

• What are/were the start and end dates of your project?

• Describe your target audience.

• Describe what the grant is for including what cost gap it will cover.

• Explain what impact or value added the project will provide.

• Provide a budget, with documentation.

For more information or to send in an application, click here.

Become a STEM Educator Award Winner

STEM Educator Award

Co-hosted by Delaware STEM Council and Delaware Foundation for Science and Math Education (DFSME), the Delaware STEM Educator Awards recognize certified teachers who demonstrate STEM innovation and excellence through teaching, academic collaboration, and student engagement. Awards are honored at the elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12) levels.

STEM Educator Community Award

Are you a STEM Educator but might not fit into the usual K-12 description?

The Delaware STEM Educator Community Award offers recognition and funding. This award is open to community educators and organizations that coordinate STEM activities for youth in grades P-12 that typically, but not exclusively, take place outside the school environment such as afterschool and organizations that are essentially non-traditional.

Cash Awards up to $7,500

Winners at each level are eligible for a cash award up to $7,500 in recognition of their commitment to STEM in Delaware and the success of our students.

Winners will be honored at the 9th Annual Delaware STEM Educator Awards event in Nov 2023.

Eligibility

Applicants can be certified K-12 teachers in the Delaware public school system as well as exceptional educators who may be uncertified but still work with K-12 students in a focused STEM curriculum. Such a curriculum (science, math, engineering, technology, computer science and CTE) must still meet all expectations and goals of the Delaware STEM Council, as listed above. Programs can include before and after school programs as well as summer camps. Preference is given to published STEM curriculums and programs that have been vetted, sustainable STEM programs and activities that have impacted many and can be replicated and scaled across the state and beyond.

Application Information and Deadline

Completed applications and all supporting materials must be received by May 30, 2023.

To access the Delaware STEM Educator Award application, click here.

Submit your original application and supporting materials or questions to: DelawareSTEMAwards@gmail.com.

Are you an educator that wants to learn more about WHAT the Awards are,

WHO should apply and HOW the process works?

For full details, prospective applicants can find out more here.

What is the DE STEM Council?

Find out more here.

Are you interested in being a Sponsor for the Awards?

To find out what it means to be a Sponsor and how click here.

2023 Delaware PAEMST Finalists Announced for

White House Recognition

The Delaware Department of Education has named four Delaware teachers as state finalists for the 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest recognition that K-12 STEM teachers can receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Finalists’ applications will now move forward to the national level for final selection of the 2023 PAEMST National Awardees.

The 2023 DE State Finalists are:

Michael Doody

Science, William Penn High School, Colonial School District

Yavet Respes

Mathematics, P.S. duPont Middle School, Brandywine School District

Brittney Stewart

Mathematics, Caesar Rodney High School, Caesar Rodney School District



Scott Woodring

Mathematics, Middletown High School, Appoquinimink School District

The goal of the PAEMST award program is to exemplify the highest standards of mathematics and science teaching (including technology, engineering and computer science) in addition to honoring individual achievement. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of STEM education.

For more information about PAEMST and to see future nomination forms and application instructions, visit paemst.nsf.gov.

Anyone Can Nominate a Shining Light Educator!

Who will YOU Nominate?



Every day, 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.

It's Easy to Nominate an Educator to be a Shining Light Honoree!

For simple details, visit us at http://dfsme.org/shining-light-award/.

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

Educators, Share STEM Careers & Jobs with Your Students!

DFSME wants to help educators and their middle and high school students identify careers and jobs in STEM – some jobs are obvious (like a scientist) while others are not so obvious (like a career in turf management). We work with our partners and sponsors to identify STEM careers and jobs.

Our STEM Careers profiles highlight useful information for your students!

• Job Overview • Job Outlook • Skills • Expected Salary Range

• Education Required for Middle and High School Students for Each Career

Explore them all!

To see and download STEM Career profiles, click here.

Save the Date! April 4 • 6-8pm

Colonial Schools STEAM Showcase

FREE and open to the public, Fun see-and-do event for all ages.

Includes the “Wonders of Science” demo, hands-on STEAM activities,

and little hands using microscopes, planting seeds and more.

William Penn High School, Colonial School District

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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

STEM Goes Red Delaware • 9am-2:30pm

This American Heart Association event helps to open doors for girls in health sciences careers

locally and improve opportunities for girls currently underserved in Delaware.

Workshops & Exhibits at Clayton Hall Conference Center, University of Delaware

To learn more and purchase tickets, click here.

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May 2

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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July 27-28 • Applications due by April 4

City Blossoms - Regional Garden-Based Learning Summit

If you are passionate about garden-based learning and eager to build community with other orgs

and advocates in the garden-based education field, then join us at the Regional Garden-based

Learning Summit. You are encouraged to attend in teams of two with a counterpart

from another collaborating org. For more info, visit https://bit.ly/3kYdwI7

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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 Business

Autumn Arch Beer Project

STEM Friends

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

STEM Gifts in Kind

Chesapeake Utilities | Christiana Care | Corteva Agriscience

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

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