Governor Jack Markell's Weekly Message
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In his weekly message, Gov. Jack Markell says recognizing Delaware’s best teacher each year isn’t just a benefit for that individual.
Markell notes that the annual Teacher of the Year award allows him to learn what initiatives are or are not working and what government can do to better support education.
“Conversations with our state’s top teachers have highlighted the need to better attract and retain great educators, including those who pursue administrative positions because they can’t advance their careers while staying in their classroom,” said Markell.
He points out a task force formed earlier this year is looking at paying First State teachers more in the hopes they don’t leave Delaware for a better paycheck.
Caesar Rodney School District Teacher Megan Szabo, a 7th and 8th grade science teacher took home this year’s top honor.
Full text of Governor Jack Markell’s weekly message
We all know how important teachers are to our children’s academic success. So to give our students the best possible education, we’ve got to celebrate and support great educators. That’s why my favorite event of the year is our annual State Teacher of the Year ceremony, where we recognize the state’s top educators and highlight their work as models for strengthening our schools.
This year’s winner is Megan Szabo, who teaches middle school science at Postlethwait in the Caesar Rodney School District. Megan has risen to the challenge of not only helping her students, but also supporting her peers. She is a lead science teacher, head coach of the school’s Science Olympiad, and advisor to the National Junior Honor Society. Her students say her hands-on activities instill a love of learning and science. Just as Megan, and educators like her, inspire their students, they should also inspire our state’s leaders to listen and respond to their needs.
Conversations with our state’s top teachers have highlighted the need to better attract and retain great educators, including those who pursue administrative positions because they can’t advance their careers while staying in the classroom. That’s why I’ve committed to raising starting salaries and giving teachers a path to increase their earnings by being leaders in their schools.
Teacher input has also inspired us to improve educator preparation programs and support professional learning communities where teachers meet to discuss the progress of their students and the most effective lessons. And I’m proud of the recent increase in state funding for technology in our classrooms.
By giving great teachers the tools they need to be successful and by fairly rewarding their contributions in our schools, we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.
