Governor's Weekly Message Transcript: Identifying Top Educators to Strengthen Our Schools

Statement

Our students deserve great teachers. Educators like Delaware Teacher of the Year Jon Sell from Sussex Tech, who helps his peers become even better teachers. And Brandywine Springs elementary social studies instructor Jill Szymanski, who was recently named National History Teacher of the Year for creating lessons like her year-long "Civil War Museum" project, which brings the past to life while developing students' reading skills.

This week, I visited with 200 education students at the University of Delaware to discuss how we can help them be at their best in the classroom. Our education students need to know that while we've raised the standard to qualify to be a teacher in Delaware, we'll ensure they have the resources and opportunities they need to be successful.

As part of our efforts to attract and retain the best teachers, we just launched an online resource to highlight the benefits of teaching in our state and to make it easier for top students to apply for Delaware jobs. Check it out at joindelawareschools.org. Over the next few years, we'll work to have all of our educator job openings on the site. There will be a common statewide application and convenient access to information about teaching in Delaware. It builds on other ways we're supporting our educators, including improved teacher preparation programs and new technology for our schools. By valuing our next generation of great teachers, we'll keep Delaware moving forward.

Source