Photo features some of the teachers honored as Teacher of the Year from their districts. In center is Morgan MaManus from Caesar Rodney and in the back row is Brian Gilewski from Lake Forest. Photo generated with AI on 10/12/26
Twenty educators from across the state will be honored in Dover before one is selected to represent Delaware in the national Teacher of the Year program.
DOVER — One of 20 educators representing Delaware’s public school districts and charter schools will be named the state’s 2027 Teacher of the Year Tuesday evening.
The Delaware Department of Education will recognize the 20 district and charter Teachers of the Year during an Oct. 13 celebration at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. The evening will conclude with the announcement of the educator selected to serve as Delaware’s Teacher of the Year.
The nominees were selected by their districts or the Delaware Charter Schools Network during 2026 and recognized for their ability to inspire students, their professional skills and their dedication to teaching.
The honor is intended to recognize an outstanding classroom teacher while also selecting an educator who can represent teachers across the state. Delaware’s winner automatically becomes the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year program.
Twenty educators in the running
This year’s nominees represent elementary, middle and high schools and teach subjects ranging from kindergarten and third grade to science, mathematics, music, social studies, French and special education.
The 2027 district and charter Teachers of the Year are:
Appoquinimink — Caitie Layton, Silver Lake Elementary, music
Brandywine — Victoria Sorg, Concord High School, French and AVID
Caesar Rodney — Morgan McManus, Allen Frear Elementary, third grade
Cape Henlopen — Julianna Danese, Cape Henlopen High School, special education and AVID
Capital — Angela Darling-Spinelli, Central Elementary, library media
Christina — Jessica Liu, Etta J. Wilson Elementary, multilingual learners
Colonial — Chadia Garyeazon, Southern Elementary, third grade
Delaware Charter Schools Network — Kelly Kline, Newark Charter High School, music
Delmar — Terry Rodenbaugh, Delmar Middle School, English
Indian River — Emily Wright, Sussex Central Middle School, science
Lake Forest — Brian Gilewski, W.T. Chipman Middle School, social studies
Laurel — Brittany Franchino, North Laurel Early Learning Academy, kindergarten
Milford — Erin Raniszewski, Mispillion Elementary, third grade
New Castle County Vocational-Technical — Sarah Dunn, Delcastle Technical High School, mathematics
POLYTECH — Victoria Ruckman, POLYTECH High School, science
Red Clay — Darla Jones, William C. Lewis Dual Language Elementary, fifth grade
Seaford — Donna Wells, Blades Elementary, kindergarten
Smyrna — Kayla Randazzo, Clayton Intermediate, fifth grade
Sussex Tech — Sarah Rose, Sussex Technical High School, music
Woodbridge — RoseMarie McGill, Woodbridge High School, social studies
The list illustrates the range of educators considered for the award, from teachers working with some of Delaware’s youngest students to those preparing high school students for college and careers. The Department of Education says the program is designed to recognize educators who can serve as ambassadors for the teaching profession.
A lengthy selection process
Being named a district Teacher of the Year is only the beginning of the statewide selection process.
Each candidate completes an application that includes five essays. Five Department of Education staff members and five former Delaware Teachers of the Year independently review and score the applications.
A former state Teacher of the Year and a department staff member then observe each candidate in the classroom.
An independent panel of judges from outside the Department of Education considers the application scores, classroom observations and a recorded presentation from each candidate before recommending a winner to the secretary of education.
The program seeks educators who are knowledgeable and skilled, inspire students of different backgrounds and abilities, earn the respect of students, parents and colleagues and can represent the profession publicly.
More than a one-night honor
The educator selected Tuesday will become Delaware’s representative in the National Teacher of the Year program, which is administered by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
The state winner also takes on a larger role as an advocate and ambassador for Delaware teachers during the year.
Through action by the Delaware General Assembly, the state Teacher of the Year will receive a $5,000 grant to benefit students and a $3,000 personal grant.
Each of the other 19 district and charter nominees will receive a $2,000 state grant.
The celebration begins with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The Teacher of the Year announcement is expected after dinner.
For Delawareans who cannot attend, the final portion of the program will be livestreamed, with coverage expected to begin about 7:15 p.m.
TO GO BOX
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