Caravel tops Saint Mark’s in DIAA Division II girls soccer final
Maci Hood’s goal in OT wins it for Bucs
Happy last month of school to all who celebrate.
With proms and most graduations for the Classes of 2025 behind them, Delaware students can now look to months of summer ahead. That means this is the last week for about four public school districts, while the rest will end the academic year next Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
In the meantime, a trend of student support fills some positive education news this week. At Delaware State University, officials are expecting state legislation to expand the INSPIRE, full-ride scholarship to graduate studies, after qualified participants finish their undergraduate degrees. At UD, Hillel is a capital campaign to fund a new Jewish student center.
Back in K-12, one Red Clay school social worker was named Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year. And one Kent County charter school just designed and built a puppy wheelchair for a rescue dog born without front legs, as part of a school STEM project.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and more education updates you may have missed.
(Did we miss another good education story? Let me know: kepowers@gannett.com.)
Hillel at UD launches capital campaign to fund new student center
Hillel at the University of Delaware has officially launched a capital campaign to fund a new Jewish student center.
The campaign, announced May 19, aims to raise $12 million to build a facility that “will serve as the hub of Jewish life at the University of Delaware for generations to come,” according to UD Hillel. The campaign has already secured $8 million, including three gifts of over $1 million from Stuart and Suzanne Grant, the Kristol family and the Book family.
Executive Director Donna Schwartz called it a “critical investment” in Jewish life at Delaware’s largest university, while programs and events continue to grow. About 13% of the undergraduate population is Jewish, according to UD in 2023.
The new building would replace the current Kristol Center for Jewish Life, which has been a hub for Jewish students at UD for over 30 years. There has been a Hillel group on UD’s campus since 1948, but 1993 finally brought a permanent space.
The next hub? A coming center is expected to feature an event hall for Shabbat dinner to seat up to 250 students, smaller study rooms, lounge spaces – including a rooftop deck – and a Beit Midrash, or a place traditionally dedicated to Torah study.
Organizers hope to hit the fundraising goal by the end of 2025, while construction is expected to begin in October. Completion slated for the end of 2026.
This will add to Newark’s fabric for Jewish students, as it already hosts a Chabad Jewish Student Center, which had to begin rebuilding after arson in 2020.
ICYMI: Red Clay social worker named Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year
Jaclyn Durant, a social worker within Red Clay Consolidated School District, has been named the 2025 Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year.
The honor came May 19, as Gov. Matt Meyer and Secretary of Education Cindy Marten made the announcement at a statewide banquet celebrating nominees across districts and the charter network. For this Richey Elementary social worker — her job is all about supporting the “whole” child.
“I approach my work through a trauma-informed, relationship-based lens, integrating nervous system regulation strategies into the supports I provide,” Durant told Delaware’s Department of Education in an announcement that night. That work has included peer conflict resolution strategies, lunch bunch groups, yoga and a new school morning “check-in” routine.
This also began to include bilingual feelings charts, which allow teachers to greet students at the door and have them consider how they’re feeling.
“This process fosters connection, allows teachers to identify students in need of support, and can be used as a discussion tool during Morning Meeting,” Durant said. “If a student appeals dysregulated, the teacher can immediately contact a member of our support staff or encourage the student to use the classroom regulation station – a dedicated space in every homeroom and united arts classroom.”
The goal? Take about five minutes to regulate and return to learning.
Durant has made sure every homeroom understands the strategy, and building Principal Gregg Johnson called her the “heart of our school community.”
Wheels to the rescue: Delaware students design custom wheelchair for puppy without front legs
Roo was born without front legs.
By 4 months old, not only was the puppy rescued from a high-kill shelter, according to Providence Creek Academy, but one group of Delaware students embarked on a project to improve its life overall. Seventh-graders at the Clayton charter school designed and built a custom puppy wheelchair.
On May 28, according to an announcement, computer science students unveiled the design with a presentation, live test of the wheels and more.
Delaware to offer educators a course on supporting students with autism
Attention early career educators: DDOE is set to offer a free course on working with students with autism.
About 1 in every 44 children is born with autism spectrum disorder, per UD. This yearlong course aims to expand practical skills in reinforcement, visual supports, naturalistic interventions, prompting and more for public school teachers and support staff, according to a social media post from the department.
The pilot program will host four group sessions, alongside individualized coaching and classroom observation. Participants also gain professional development hours and research-based resources, per DDOE.
Interest meetings already wrapped up in late May, but anyone interested in more information, or to sign up, is encouraged to reach out to Nicole Zehnder via email (nicole.zehnder@doe.k12.de.us).
This joins several other initiatives and sources of support in the First State, with many outlined online by UD’s Center for Disabilities Studies.
Got a tip? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@gannett.com.