An Impressive Class of Graduates

黑洞社区’s CAEP-accredited and nationally recognized teacher preparation programs foster excellence in education. Our graduates are consistently recognized as leaders in the field, preparing their students for an increasingly diverse and complex world by creating inclusive, diverse and impactful learning environments.


Teachers of the Year

Ashley Lockwood photo

Ashley Lockwood

2023 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary Studies (K-6) and Special Education

Ashley Lockwood is a fifth-grade immersion teacher at Milford’s Lulu M. Ross Elementary School.

Jahsha Tabron photo

Jahsha Tabron

2022 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in School Leadership and Instruction

Jahsha Tabron is a special education English teacher at Wilmington’s Brandywine High School.

Dana Bowe photo

Dana Bowe

2019 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in Special Education Non-Cert.

Dana Bowe is an elementary special education teacher in the Sussex County Orthopedic Program at West Seaford Elementary School.

Virginia Forcucci photo

Virginia Forcucci

2018 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in Career & Technical Education

A high school English teacher from the Sussex Technical School District is Delaware's 2018 State Teacher of the Year.

Wendy Turner photo

Wendy Turner

2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary Studies

Ten years ago, Wendy Turner never guessed she'd be Delaware's 2017 Teacher of the Year, mainly because she was an accountant for 17 years. But she needed a change and switched to teaching.

Sandra Hall photo

Sandra Hall

2016 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in Primary Education (K-4)

This 2016 Delaware Teacher of the Year is passionate about education and 黑洞社区.

Megan Szabo photo

Megan Szabo

2015 Delaware Teacher of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in School Counseling

Lea Wainwright photo

Lea Wainwright

2014 Delaware Teacher of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in Applied Technology in Education

Amber Augustus photo

Amber Augustus

2012 Delaware Teacher of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in Middle Level Education (5-8)

Joseph Masiello photo

Joseph Masiello

2011 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in School Leadership & Instruction

Mary Pinkston photo

Mary Pinkston

2010 Delaware Teacher of the Year
Graduate School Leadership Coursework

Mark Teesdale photo

Mark Teesdale

2009 Delaware Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. in Applied Technology in Education


Assistant Principals of the Year

Colleen Conaty photo

Colleen Conaty

2018 Delaware Assistant Principal of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Courses

Colleen Conaty received the honor while assistant principal at Howard High School of Technology.

Courtney Voshell photo

Courtney Voshell

2014 Delaware Assistant Principal of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in School Leadership

“It is an extreme honor to represent Delaware and, most importantly, the Capital School District, as this has been my home since I was in high school,” Voshell said. Read more about Courtney.

Richard Evans photo

Richard Evans

2012 Delaware Assistant Principal of the Year
M.Ed. in School Leadership

Richard Evans received the honor while assistant principal at Sussex Central High School.

Christopher Beck photo

Christopher Beck

2011 Delaware Assistant Principal of the Year
M.Ed. in Applied Technology in Education

Chris Beck received the honor while assistant principal at Middletown High School.


Principals of the Year

Kristina Failing photo

Kristina Failing

2022 Delaware Principal of the Year
Ed.D. in Innovation and Leadership

Kris Failing has been an administrator with the Caesar Rodney School District for 19 years, currently leading Postlethwait Middle School, which recently won Special Olympics Unified Champion School and was recognized as an ESPN Top-5 school.

Sherry Kijowski photo

Sherry Kijowski

2019 Delaware Principal of the Year
Graduate Certificate in Reading

"I think one of the best parts of being a principal is when a fleeting comment becomes an idea, and that idea then becomes an integral part of your school's DNA."

Maribeth Courtney photo

Maribeth Courtney

2018 Delaware National Distinguished Principal of the Year
MEC in Elementary and School Leadership Courses

Maribeth Courtney has served as principal of Evan G. Shortlidge Academy since 2012, where she has worked diligently to improve instructional practices.

Becky Neubert photo

Becky Neubert

2017 Delaware National Distinguished Principal of the Year
M.Ed. in School Leadership, B.S. in Middle Level Education (5-8)

One teacher at Central Elementary School (CES) says, "[I am] lucky to call my principal a colleague and a friend, as we work together for our kids".

Stanley Spoor photo

Stanley Spoor

2017 Delaware Secondary Principal of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in Applied Technology in Education, M.Ed. in School Administration

Jennifer Nauman photo

Jennifer Nauman

2016 Delaware National Distinguished Principal of the Year
Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, M.Ed. in School Counseling


Superintendents of the Year

Matthew L. Burrows photo

Matthew L. Burrows

2018-2019 Delaware Superintendent of the Year
Ed.D. and M.Ed. in Elementary Studies

Mark Holodick photo

Mark Holodick

2016-2017 Delaware Superintendent of the Year
M.Ed. in Instruction: Teaching & Learning

Mark Holodick became Delaware’s Secretary of Education in January 2022.

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Mervin Daugherty

2015 Delaware Superintendent of the Year
Ed.D. in Leadership

Before being named Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools in August 2018, Mervin B. Daugherty was Superintendent of Delaware's largest and highest-achieving school district.


School Counselors of the Year

Leslee Hazzard photo

Leslee Hazzard

2022 Delaware School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Leslee Hazzard is a counselor at East Millsboro Elementary School in the Indian River School District (IRSD) and is also IRSD’s elementary lead counselor, in which role she advocates for counselors at the district and state levels.

Kirsten Coughlin photo

Kirsten Coughlin

2020 Delaware School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

In addition to providing comprehensive counseling services to students at Howard High School of Technology, Kirsten Coughlin has been a strong voice and advocate for school counselors across Delaware.

Tammy Taylor photo

Tammy L. Taylor

2019 Delaware Elementary School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Tammy Taylor supports students at South Dover Elementary School.

Jaqueline Sheridan photo

Jacqueline Sheridan

2019 Delaware Middle School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Jacqueline Sheridan helps students at Mariner Middle School.

Lisa Street photo

Lisa Street

2019 Delaware High School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Lisa Street serves as the department chair of school counseling at Brandywine High School.

Laura Malmstrom photo

Laura Malmstrom

2018 Delaware School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Laura Malmstrom helps students at Sarah Pyle Academy.

Cheryl M. Carey photo

Cheryl M. Carey

2016 Delaware School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Jan Bomhardt photo

Jan Bomhardt

2015 Delaware Elementary School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling

Judith Hayes photo

Judith Hayes

2015 Delaware Middle School Counselor of the Year
M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling