UD hosts Policy and Practice Institute for nearly 600 Delaware educators with state and local partners

July 12, 2024

In partnership with the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) and the Delaware Association of School Administrators, the University of Delaware’s School Success Center (SSC) and Partnership for Public Education (PPE), housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), welcomed nearly 600 educators to the 22nd annual Policy and Practice Institute in June at Dover High School in Dover, Delaware.

The conference is Delaware’s premier networking and professional learning event for educators, school leaders and policymakers. With practical tools and resources, this year’s event enabled participants to take action toward creating stronger and more equitable learning opportunities for Delaware students. With sessions focused on building school, family and community partnerships, recruiting and retaining educators and more, the conference aligned with CEHD’s commitment to supporting Delaware educators, improving educational outcomes and diversifying the education workforce.

“The increase in attendance this year and the number and variety of sessions demonstrates the importance of this annual event to Delaware educators,” said Faith Muirhead, director of the SSC. “We are honored to collaborate in bringing educators together to learn with and from one another. This was a year to celebrate, moving from intention to impact, and the conference theme clearly resonated with participants.”

I

Nearly 600 educators from across Delaware attended the 22nd annual Policy and Practice Institute at Dover High School in Dover, DE

The event also included remarks from Mark Holodick, DDOE secretary of education and CEHD alumnus, and a keynote address from Jamila Dugan, an educator, coach and author who has spent her career uplifting the experiences of students, families and educators whose voices have historically been marginalized. Dugan’s keynote, titled “The Possible Future of Education: An Invitation to Radically Dream,” invited participants to “radically dream” about a new “future of learning.”

“Even after experiencing time away from schools during the pandemic, we are still clinging to an archaic system,” Dugan said. “Urgency, fear and the pull of the dominant paradigm of schooling have led many educators toward a feverish return to the status quo — reducing schooling experiences to addressing perceived student deficits and learning for the sake of achievement on standardized tests. But what could it look like to make a fundamental mindset shift toward capitalizing on the possibilities of now and the transformative chance to dream?”

The event also featured Delaware TIDE talks, fast-paced and creative presentations meant to trailblaze, innovate, discover and empower. Six educators presented on amplifying student voices, belonging and inclusion, building relationships to address equity gaps, equity in math class and social media use and its impact on schools and families.

“Delaware TIDE talks were designed to elevate the impact of Delaware educators,” said Alison Travers, assistant director of SSC’s Delaware Academy for School Leadership. “Attendees were very responsive to the exciting and engaging presentation style, and we heard several participants commenting on how much they enjoyed the TIDE Talks and how much they learned from the presenters.”

Nancy Ventresca, academic dean at West Park Place Elementary School, shared how valuable she finds the event each year.

“I look forward to the Policy and Practice Institute each year,” Ventresca said. “Coming together with educators and leaders from all over is truly inspiring, and I always come away with fresh ideas and new perspectives to inform and shape my own practice. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to catch up with colleagues and forge new professional relationships. Each year brings interesting keynotes and a wide array of meaningful breakout sessions led by a variety of educational leaders.”

Delaware educators engage in conversation during a poster session at the Policy and Practice Institute.

Annastasia Purninton, associate director of the PPE, expressed gratitude for the ability to partner with Delaware educators and policymakers throughout the state.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to share some of PPE’s work through the Policy and Practice Institute and to learn more about the exceptional work happening in Delaware from the people who have the greatest impact on students: Delaware’s educators, administrators and policymakers,” Purinton said. “The partnerships that PPE has initiated with DDOE, districts, charters and UD faculty will not only enhance local expertise but also provide innovative solutions informed by the expertise of all our partners to address education needs across the state.”

About the School Success Center

Launched in 2022, the SSC partners with teachers and administrators in public, charter and independent schools and offers a systemic approach to improving student and school outcomes. The SSC is unique in partnering with both teachers and administrators on the same improvement strategies to ensure that teachers, schools and districts grow together.

In addition to providing differentiated coaching services for school and district leaders, the SSC offers expert-facilitated professional learning programs in literacy instruction, math instruction and multi-tiered systems of support, focusing on student screening, diagnostic assessment, intervention design, progress monitoring and more.

To partner with the SSC, visit its website.

About the Partnership for Public Education

Since 2015, PPE has leveraged UD expertise, evaluation, professional development and advocacy resources to support Delaware’s public education system and foster sustainable partnerships with Delaware’s public education stakeholders.

PPE aims to expand UD’s research impact, recognizing that research in education is often underused nationwide. To achieve this goal, PPE aims to identify, mobilize and optimize UD research to directly address critical needs in Delaware’s education system in ways that have measurable impacts on Delaware’s P-12 policy and practice.

To learn more about PPE, visit its website.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Photos by Maria Errico.

Header image caption: The Policy and Practice Institute is Delaware’s premier networking and professional learning event for educators, school leaders and policymakers.

The Empowering Black Secondary Math Educators (EBSME) event on June 4, 2024, featured Dr. Toya Frank and was a remarkable success. Organized by SSC School Success Specialists Nicole Draper, Jonathan Dinkins, and Crystal Collier, this event was designed to spread awareness of the inequities facing Black teachers in Delaware. 

The EBSME event aimed to engage and support teachers of color, particularly Black math educators, who often face unique challenges and feelings of isolation within the educational system. Our ultimate goal is to extend these supportive spaces to other Black teachers and leaders, including those in the state’s elementary, middle, and specialty subject areas.

The team expressed that they strive to create a supportive community that acknowledges and addresses the educational system’s specific struggles and racialized experiences. Research indicates that racial affinity professional development can help sustain Black teachers in the classroom and enhance their capacity to effect systemic change.

Dr. Toya Frank’s expertise and unwavering dedication have furnished us with invaluable insights into the inequities facing Black mathematics teachers. You can learn more about Dr. Frank’s work here.

This event was made possible by a generous Delaware Department of Education grant. 

Here are some actionable ways to support Black math teachers in the classroom:

1. Advocate for Inclusive Policies
2. Foster Mentorship and Networking Opportunities
3. Facilitate Professional Development
4. Cultivate Safe Spaces
5. Engage in Active Listening and Learning
6. Support access to professional development 
7. Provide Accessible Resources
8. Recognize and Celebrate Contributions
9. Champion Student Support Initiatives

Through the collective pursuit of these initiatives, we can foster a more supportive and equitable environment for Black math teachers, enriching their capacity to educate and inspire future generations.

UD SSC hosts professional learning conference for nearly 300 Delaware educators on Newark campus

The University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)’s School Success Center (SSC) hosted the sixth annual Women Leading Delaware Education Conference on UD’s Newark campus. On Wednesday, March 13, the SSC welcomed nearly 300 Delaware educators to Clayton Hall Conference Center for an engaging and inspiring day of professional learning.

The Women Leading Delaware Education Conference is a networking and professional learning event for teachers and administrators in elementary, secondary and higher education settings. The event addresses issues specific to women and education leadership and provides a powerful opportunity for current and aspiring leaders to convene for an impactful day of connection, reflection and inspiration. The conference aligns with CEHD’s commitment to diversifying the education workforce, supporting educational leaders throughout their careers and helping Delaware schools address the regional school leader shortages.

“Delaware schools have many strong women leaders who use this annual event as an opportunity to rejuvenate, make connections and learn from one another,” said Faith Muirhead, director of the SSC. “This year’s conference brought almost 300 participants together to support their individual leadership development and work together to find answers to the problems that confront our schools and to develop solutions.”

The theme of this year’s event was “Celebrating Our Resilience,” and the keynote speaker, sponsored by the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), was Jane Kise, founder of Differentiated Coaching Associates. Kise’s address focused on the concepts of brain energy and bandwidth, moving beyond self care to help women leaders and their colleagues stay energized and passionate about their work.

J

“The resounding message from social media is that burnout is the price of leadership, especially for women,” Kise said. “Yet it isn’t inevitable. I love sharing our research that highlights all the areas that go beyond selfcare that let us reclaim our time, our focus, our purpose and our passion. And facilitating these discussions with a group of motivated leaders means they’ll take this information back to their staff and improve everyone’s wellbeing.”

The event also featured whole-group and breakout sessions facilitated by national and local leaders who led thoughtful discussion on topics such as personal and organizational resilience, gender equality, diversity and inclusion, school and district leadership, education policy and overcoming barriers specific to women.

“Intentionally including networking time and opportunities for connection within the conference agenda were priorities for our team,” said Alison Travers, assistant director of SSC’s Delaware Academy for School Leadership (DASL). “We have received feedback from multiple participants of the March 13 conference stating that they appreciated time to connect with colleagues, to network and make new connections and to feel celebrated for their role in education.”

Angela Socorso, education associate in the DDOE, also emphasized the importance of the event and expressed gratitude for the opportunities it offered.

“The conference serves as an invaluable platform for fostering connections, networking and deepening our understanding of leadership dynamics,” Socorso said. “It not only provides an opportunity to reflect on our personal journeys but also encourages us to critically examine our leadership styles and approaches, empowering us to make meaningful impacts for those we lead and support. This conference is a testament to the collective strength and potential of women in leadership, and I’m grateful for the enriching experience it offers.”

About the School Success Center

Launched in 2022, the SSC partners with teachers and administrators in public, charter and independent schools and offers a systemic approach to improving student and school outcomes. The SSC is unique in partnering with both teachers and administrators on the same improvement strategies to ensure that teachers, schools and districts grow together.

In addition to providing differentiated coaching services for school and district leaders, the SSC offers expert-facilitated professional learning programs in literacy instruction, math instruction and multi-tiered systems of support, focusing on student screening, diagnostic assessment, intervention design, progress monitoring and more.

To partner with the SSC, visit its website.

Read this story on UDaily.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Photos by Maria Errico.