OUR GOAL: Revitalizing Teacher Support in Delaware

Revitalizing Teacher Support in Delaware

By Jon Manon, President

Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education

The Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education (DFSME) is an advocate for teachers. We aim to promote a STEM education “that will prepare Delaware students to be informed citizens and competitive in the global workforce.” We see an opportunity to co-create a revived and renewed STEM education that will better prepare students for success. DFSME relies on the partnerships we have developed with our business and corporate community. As we consider how to make the most of the business-education interface, we have come to believe that there are three functions that demand our attention and action for our Delaware teachers.

Three R’s of Teacher Support: Recruitment, Retention and Recognition

Too often teachers’ best work is not recognized for the foundational role it provides. DFSME continues to provide both material awards in the form of grants as well as public Recognition to STEM teachers for their innovative and often heroic efforts in the classroom.

We know that Recruiting for the next generation of talented STEM teachers is a top priority. Working with the Delaware Department of Education, DFSME is prepared to advocate for the kinds of incentives that might attract more students into the teaching profession.

Perhaps even more important than recruiting new teachers are efforts in Retaining the talented teaching corps already in our schools. DFSME is unique in that we act as a partnership between educators and the business community. We are prepared to marshal both communities to engage the teacher retention challenge.

Please join us in our efforts to revitalize STEM education in Delaware.

Thank you!

Connecting Science to Society

By Dr. Bassam Shakhashiri

Professor and former President, American Chemical Society

Retirement from connecting science with society? You must be thinking of someone else! I am not done yet. Would you like to join me in important outreach and public engagement activities?

Science and society face grand challenges: global warming, population growth, finite resources, malnutrition, spreading disease, deadly violence, war, and the denial of basic human rights — especially the right to benefit from scientific and technological progress.

The wide gap between those of us who flourish because of advances in science and technology and those who do not is highly alarming and adversely consequential.

Facing these challenges requires vigilance, creativity, and

the core belief that doing good in the world

is a vital part of who we are and what we stand for.

With continual advances in science, the need for connecting science to society requires care, respect, and trust. We can align personal learning with serving the common good of society. Learning is enriched by sharing with others. It is validated by engaging in respectful conversations. It is affirmed by responsible action for the common good.

For Science is Fun in the Lab with Shakashiri concepts to fit your classroom, click here.

To help spread the word about an online climate science workbook for teachers and faculty to integrate climate material into their curriculum, click here.

Bassam Z. Shakhashiri is a retired professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. An active advocate for science education in Wisconsin and Delaware, he is author of multiple books of chemical demonstrations. He was the 2012 president of the American Chemical Society and received numerous awards and honors. Dr. Shakhashiri co-hosted “A Conversation in Science” at Delaware’s 2021 STEM Equity Conference.

Science, Health, & Truth

Science and Politics are Essential for Public Health to Work Well

By William L. Roper, Interim President, University of North Carolina

The past 2 years have been a strange and difficult time for the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought illness, hospitalization, and death near to many people. In the U.S., people are divided not only on what they should do but also on what constitutes the facts. Many are seemingly in an alternative world, driven by disinformation, conspiracy theories, and anti-science beliefs. How can health and medical leaders do their jobs while trying to cope with a polarized public? They must be more effective in explaining and persuading the public on matters of science and health. This will require better clarification of two things to the public—the roles of science and politics in public policy decisions, and the means by which scientific truth is established and updated.

There is a continuing strand of argument from many in the scientific community that “we ought to get politics out of public health.” And many politicians have said that scientists are not the ones to make public policy decisions related to public health or other issues. The reality is that both science and politics are essential for public health to work well. Scientists inform public understanding of the patterns of health and illness in populations, especially when epidemics and pandemics strike. And politics—the way decisions are made in a democratic society—is vital for acting on the information and insights that the scientific community provides for the benefit of everyone.

In addition to clarifying the separate roles of science and politics, society needs to understand better how scientific truth is established and updated. It is based on verified and reproducible facts. The scientific method of gathering data, debating various formulations of the information, and arriving at consensus understandings of what is “true” about a particular matter has been the bedrock for establishing scientific truth for centuries. But in the past few years, political leaders, media personalities, and ordinary citizens have proclaimed their own “alternative facts,” disparaging the idea that anyone should question their “facts” and theories.

The challenges of communicating messages about science, health, and truth are among the often-mentioned reasons for the fatigue and discouragement that public health and medical leaders face. That frustration is transferred to those who seek to engage the wider public with these messages.

Overcoming these challenges will surely be difficult, but with a concerted effort it can be done, as it has before. For example, in efforts to promote widespread childhood immunizations. This requires a full-time commitment, as we are learning every day.

Reprinted from Science.org. To read the full June 30, 2022 article, click here.

Join Us in Discovering that STEM is Everywhere!

Even at the Delaware State Fair!

Take a Photograph • Write a Paragraph • Submit & Get Published!

Did you know that STEM is everywhere in our daily lives? And it’s everywhere at the Delaware State Fair too!

DFSME invites students, parents, teachers and educators of all ages to enjoy and be involved in this STEM activity during the 10 Fair days in Harrington, DE from July 21-30.

Take a photo and write a paragraph describing your discovery and how it relates to STEM. Your subject can include anything related to science, technology, engineering, and math. This also includes agriculture, oceans, robotics, computers, electronics, just about anything. The sky is the limit!

Get published in DFSME News, August Issue!

To get your submission published in the DFSME August issue, send your photo and paragraph, along with your name and contact information, to anne.dfsme@gmail.com with “State Fair Submission” in the subject line. Click here to sign up to receive our newsletter so you can see your submissions!

Now Offering BSE Degree in Elementary Ed and BSN in Nursing

Ready to pursue the next level of your education? Delaware Technical Community College offers a wide variety of credit programs of study, now including two new Bachelor of Science degrees.

The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSE) program is a combination of in-person and online coursework combined with immersive experiences designed for teacher candidates who have acquired an Associate of Arts in teaching. Candidates will become eligible for dual certification in elementary education and special education in Delaware. Teachers in Delaware earn an average salary of $64,853, and an average starting salary of $43,092. This program is offered at the Dover, Georgetown, and Wilmington campuses.

For more information, click here.

RN to BSN: The Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is an online degree program designed for current RNs who to reach the next level of their nursing education while working. The program will provide licensed registered nurses with baccalaureate-level education. The RN to BSN program builds upon the foundational knowledge and skills attained in previous nursing courses and experiences. Baccalaureate education prepares professional nurses with a broad knowledge base for practice with expanded roles encompassing advocacy, leadership, and scholarship. Competitive starting salaries range from $62,000 - $95,000. This program is offered online with program coordinators at the Dover, Georgetown, and Stanton campuses.

For more information, click here.

New Goldey-Beacom Degrees Target the Needs

of Delaware Employers

Goldey-Beacom College recently announced two new degree programs that aim to prepare students for success in sought-after career fields. The new bachelor’s degree programs include interdisciplinary studies and business administration with a concentration in business analytics. The latter seeks to address a range of employer needs through classroom instruction and experiential opportunities.

The curriculum for the program — which includes data mining, software, and data analytics courses — culminates in a student-driven research project intended to provide graduates with a competitive edge. According to the American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), 85% of employers find graduates with applied experience to be more appealing job candidates.

Students who engage with real-world data and collaborate with businesses in the community as a part of the program’s senior project will be able to share tangible proof of their marketable skills and competencies with potential employers.

The college’s two new degree programs, both formulated with workforce readiness in mind, will be available to students starting this fall.

To read the full Delaware Business Times article, click here.

Professional Learning Opportunity August 2-4

Data Science Camp:

Investigations in

Data Science

At its core, data science is computation with context. It is a mathematics discipline rooted in its interconnectivity to other subjects. A data science curriculum bridges the gap between statistical acumen, software engineering and domain expertise. The Investigations in Data Science: A Focused Exploration of What it Means to Engage in Data Science professional learning initiative aims to understand how to incorporate this discipline into the K-12 curriculum.

Professional learning collaborators include leaders of the Delaware Math Coalition, Delaware Department of Education, Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and Tech Impact. The target audience includes high school math and STEM teachers in Delaware schools.

Seating is limited to 25 participants, apply NOW! To download the flyer, click here.

To register for Data Science Camp, click here.

Summer Sessions with Discovery Education

We have exciting news for Delaware Middle and High School educators. Discovery Education professional learning can now be found in PDMS!

When you register and attend one of our sessions this summer, you will receive one (1) professional learning (PL) clock hour for each session attended. Register in PDMS (course number 30581) and select the section(s) that interests you. Be sure to check out our latest offerings this summer.

To download the flyer, click here.

To explore a date and time to meet in-person or virtually, please contact Andrea Gardner at agardner@discoveryed.com or call 240-393-4642.

Smithsonian National Education Summit July 27-28

Online Learning Event for Classroom-Ready Ideas!

This National Education Summit, hosted by the Smithsonian Science Education Center in Washington, D.C., takes place July 27-28. Hear tips from museum experts and education practitioners and leave with classroom-ready ideas. Engage in skill-building workshops for all subject areas. Register today for this free opportunity!

The Smithsonian Science Education Center will present the following two sessions:

Convergence Education: A Framework to Help K-12 STEAM Educators Teach

about Real-World Transdisciplinary Problems and Phenomena:

The Smithsonian joins other federal agencies and two K-12 STEAM educators to share examples of “convergence education.” Driven by complex real-world transdisciplinary problems and phenomena—ranging from climate change to biodiversity—learners apply knowledge and skills in a blended approach integrated across multiple disciplines to create and innovate new solutions.

Making Sense of Things in the Real World:

Phenomenon and Problem-driven Weather Curriculum (Pre-K to K):

In this session, educators will explore phenomenon and problem-driven early childhood science lessons. We will model a sensemaking approach and provide educators with classroom-ready teaching resources that were developed at the Smithsonian Science Education Center in collaboration with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center.

Click here for FREE registration, learn more about the session lineup, and keynote announcements, please visit Smithsonian Science Education Center on Facebook.

NASA’s Webb Telescope Delivers Deepest Images of Universe Yet

A flurry of bright white galaxies is stirring up this scene – the group of galaxies is also bending and warping the light from more distant galaxies behind them, stretching and repeating their appearances. Webb’s images will allow future researchers to finely catalog the precise compositions of galaxies in the early universe, which may ultimately reshape our understanding of how galaxies changed and evolved over billions of years.

Exquisite New Data Will Transform Our Understanding of the Early Universe

This image, one of the first high resolution images captured by Nasa’s James Webb Telescope, shows the galaxy cluster SMACS 0723 as it appeared 4.6 billion years ago, with many more galaxies in front of and behind the cluster. Much more about this cluster will be revealed as researchers begin digging into Webb’s data. This field was also imaged by Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), which observes mid-infrared light.

Webb’s NIRCam has brought distant galaxies into sharp focus – they have tiny, faint structures that have never been seen before, including star clusters and diffuse features.

To view more images and download full-resolution, uncompressed versions and supporting visuals for this image from the Space Telescope Science Institute, click here.

The James Webb Telescope

Click each link below for live updates and first photos.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope mission: Live Updates

James Webb Space Telescope's 1st Photos

July 27-30

Smithsonian National Education Summit

Convergence Education for K-12 STEAM Educators

Phenomenon & Problem-driven Weather Curriculum, Pre-K to K

To learn more, free registration, session lineup and keynote,

and visit the Smithsonian Science Ed Center Facebook site, click here.

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July 21-30

Delaware State Fair

For information about Fair times, Events, Fun, Exhibitors, and Center Ice Arena, click here.

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July 30

Exploration: Measuring Time • 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

DASEF Environmental Outpost, 585 Big Oak Road, Smyrna, DE

Find out how to tell time using shadows and sand! Learn about the devices people have used to keep time throughout the ages. Discover what AM and PM means besides morning and afternoon when you learn about the time zones. Join us for this Exploration for the TIME of your life!

$6/per person (cash only), kids under 3 free.

To register and for the full schedule of 2022 DASEF educational events, click here.

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August 2 - 4 • 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Data Science Camp for Secondary Teachers - Investigations into Data Science

Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Delaware Mathematics Coalition and TECH Impact

St. Andrew’s School Campus, 350 Noxontown Road, Middletown, DE

For more information, contact Jamila Riser at jqriser@gmail.com.

To request to register, visit for Data Science Camp 2022 Application Form.

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Save the Date! October 14-15

Delaware Mathematics & STEM Equity Conferences