Delaware State Education Association

10/19/2026

Whether you love it or hate it, AI is changing the landscape of public education.

Our union is here to help make sure we don’t get left behind!

Woodbridge High media specialist Harry Brake will host a training webinar from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, to teach union educators how to master, integrate, and access the skills we need to help make AI work for us.

Developed in collaboration with Writing Partners and Teachers Teaching Teachers, this training will cover tools, platforms, and tips for how we can grow our classroom creativity in secure ways with AI.

Click here to register today: https://bit.ly/4yyOTl0

Click here to get the specific tools you’ll need for this session: https://bit.ly/4yzuZq7

Click here to read more about Harry’s journey exploring ways that AI can be used to enhance – rather than replace – our creativity and our students’ learning: https://bit.ly/4BfY5gC

10/18/2026

Congratulations to Timothy Warren, DSEA’s Teacher of the Month for October!

A social studies teacher at Postlethwait Middle School in the Caesar Rodney School District, Timothy graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 2005.

He then worked in the private sector while earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Washington College and a master’s degree in education from Wilmington University.

Today, he teaches 8th graders and serves as an advisor for Postlethwait’s yearbook club, Odyssey of the Mind team, and he helped to restart the school’s Student Council this fall.

“Mr. Warren is always prepared and makes learning fun,” his colleagues tell us. “He holds all of his students to a high standard and is devoted to making our school better.”

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

My family and other adult role models instilled in me the importance of hard work and service to others, and my educators motivated me to become a better version of myself. My student teaching mentor Mrs. Kim Young also has helped me recognize my full potential as an educator.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐧?

With our 8th Grade Social Studies curriculum, there is a lot of writing and analyzing primary sources involved, which can sometimes be draining for students. Finding a positive balance with other activities and learning experiences to support the content keeps them engaged.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

The most important part of education is our students. When students feel that their ideas, opinions, and perspectives are being heard, their confidence increases, and they also learn to work through problems, which is an essential life skill. It is important that students feel valued by their school community.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐑 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤?

I think about the clubs that I was a part of throughout school, and all of the teachers who encouraged and challenged me. As the saying goes, "Once a Rider, always a Rider"!

(Editors note: We are aware of the typo. A new plaque has been ordered.)

10/17/2026

While students had off on Monday, paraprofessionals from across the Indian River School District gathered at Millsboro Middle School for a full day of professional learning.

A new tradition in IRSD, the district-wide Para PD Day came about as a direct result of union action.

Tired of attending mandatory professional development that had little to do with their jobs, paraprofessionals in the Indian River Education Association worked with the district to create learning opportunities designed specifically for paraprofessionals.

And our union was well represented this year with training sessions led by IREA President Blair Catlin Brown, IREA Vice President for Paras Chelsea Fidderman, Ennis School AR Jordan Balasus, IREA UniServ Director Val Hoffmann, and Kathy Dulis, DSEA’s Director of Professional and Leadership Development.

Together, we’re stronger! Together, our voices will be heard!

(Visit us on Instagram for more photos!)

10/16/2026

DSEA’s longtime corporate partner Horace Mann – the only insurance company created by educators for educators – has just launched a free, new program created just for us!

The Horace Mann Club delivers exclusive discounts, unique perks, wellness resources, and financial tools to support educators in our classrooms and throughout our lives.

Membership is free and you can start taking advantage of the perks immediately after enrolling. No offerings also will continue to be added over time.

Click here to learn more or to enroll in the Horace Mann Club today: https://bit.ly/4s6ItrE

10/16/2026

We cannot continue to accept gun violence in our schools as a fact of life. Our students deserve to learn, grow, and thrive in safe schools and communities.

We are heartbroken for the families, students and staff at Silver Rail Elementary and across the beautiful city of Bend. A dark day for all Oregonians. But in moments like these, we have each other. If you'd like to share a message of love and support for our members, please email [email protected]. 🩵

10/15/2026

𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐅𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒:

There’s only 1 week left to register for the 2026 DSEA ESP Conference!

Join paraprofessionals, food service workers, custodians, transportation workers, school secretaries, constables and other support staff from across Delaware as we celebrate each other and work to build our collective power together.

You won’t want to miss this year’s powerhouse lineup, featuring:

❖ Ric Calhoun – NEA ESP of the Year
❖ Ellen David Friedman – Labor Notes board chair and author
❖ Argos Gonzalez – WholeSchool Mindfulness leader
❖ Gretchen Loose – DSEA 2026 ESP of the Year

The 2026 DSEA ESP Conference at the Del-One Conference Center on Delaware Technical Community College’s Terry Campus in Dover is free for ESP union members and meals will be provided.

Click here to register now for the Recognition Dinner & Social from 5:30-8 p.m. on Friday, November 6 and the Professional Learning & Power Building session from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 7: https://bit.ly/4rRhksr

Together, we are stronger!

10/14/2026

Thank you to the 30 new Association Representatives who spent last Saturday honing their skills and strengthening their union muscles during a full-day training at Smyrna High School.

Association Representatives, or ARs as we call them, play a critical role as the first point of contact for our members and a vital link between educators and their local union.

That’s why DSEA offers an AR Bootcamp in all three counties at least once a year to help provide our building leaders with the training and resources they need to represent their colleagues in administrative meetings, investigate grievances, and deliver real change for our members.

More ARs are needed! Contact your local president if you‘re interested in becoming an Association Representative.

Together, we are stronger! Together, our voices will be heard!

(Visit us on Instagram for more photos)

10/14/2026

Congratulations to union educator Jessica Liu on being named Delaware’s 2027 Teacher of the Year!

Jessica teaches multilingual learners in K-5 at Wilson (Etta J.) Elementary School in the Christina School District. She also serves as the school’s equity coordinator and family engagement coordinator and has helped launch the school’s Drama Club, Career Day and its Multicultural Festival.

Read more about Jessica here:

Delaware schools nominated 20 local educators as their 2027 Teachers of the Year. But only one could land the state honor.

10/13/2026

Congratulations to Precious Belle, DSEA’s ESP of the Month for October!

A paraprofessional and bus aide at Howard T. Ennis School School in the Indian River School District since 2021, Precious first began her career in education at Kidz Akademy daycare while also attending college full-time.

The Sussex Technical High School grad would go on to earn three associate degrees from Delaware Technical Community College, including business management (2017), early childhood education (2019), and elementary education (2026).

Today, she’s a beloved staff member at Sussex County’s only countywide K-12 public school serving students with significant disabilities.

“Precious brings the classroom alive with her enthusiasm and dedication to our students,” her colleagues tell us. “She is adored by students and a role model for her fellow paraprofessionals. Precious is an all-star and we are very lucky to have her!”

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

I’ve always enjoyed working with children. And as the pandemic began to lift, a position opened up for a 1:1 para at North Georgetown and I decided to try it.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬?

I see the student first, not the behavior. Behaviors are often a form of communication. So I try to understand what the student may be communicating through their behavior and respond with patience, consistency, and respect.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

I would make sure every student has the opportunity and resources they need to reach their full potential. And I would make sure every student felt needed, valued, and understood, regardless of their abilities or challenges.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬?

People tend to overlook their strengths and abilities. Every child is capable of learning, even though their progress may look different. Some students may need more help than others, and sometimes the smallest accomplishments can be huge victories.

10/13/2026

We stand with Appoquinimink Education Association!