Delaware Tech Hires Faculty Team for New Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education Program

Delaware Technical Community College has introduced a new Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSE) program designed to create a pipeline for aspiring teachers who want to stay in Delaware and fill vacancies caused by the current teacher shortage.

"We created this program when we received a request from the state's superintendents," said Delaware Tech President Mark Brainard. "This is just one more example of the College responding to an urgent need in our local workforce."

New BSE Faculty Members:

Stephanie Jeffery was previously an English instructor at the Stanton campus, where she began as an adjunct instructor in 2005, later becoming full-time in 2009. Before joining Delaware Tech, she taught for 12 years at different grade levels in a variety of school settings. Besides a bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in reading, she holds several K-12 teaching certifications, including reading specialist. She is also working toward certification in K-12 ESOL literacy and has learned a great deal about culturally responsive teaching practices.

Timoshanae Rainey joins the College as a teacher and team leader from East Side Charter School in Wilmington, where she learned that relationship building is the most important factor in any learning environment. She is passionate about providing support for her students and colleagues. She has led several mentoring organizations including The Profound Ladies, where she served as an impact leader for a cohort of women educators of color engaging in professional development and support.

Wendy Turner joins the Delaware Tech team from the Brandywine School District, where she taught second grade. She has a broad range of experience as a successful elementary school educator at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School for the past 12 years as well as recognition as the 2017 Delaware Teacher of the Year. She is an expert and presents nationally on social emotional learning (SEL), which is now a critical element of learning for both adults and children.

Dr. Katie Gillespie has been a second and third grade teacher for eight years at Bunker Hill Elementary School in the Appoquinimink School District, where she taught regular education and special education students. She has also served in a variety of teacher leadership positions. As someone who strives to develop lifelong learners, she is a model for continuing education, having completed her Master of Education Degree focused on Teacher Leadership and her Doctorate in Education focused on Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware.

Megan Sherman was formerly a special education coordinator in the Woodbridge School District, where she collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams to coordinate services with occupational therapists, school psychologists, physical therapists, parents, teachers, and reading and math specialists. She is a presenter at both the state and district level on various topics. She believes that educating is about facilitating and guiding students to learn their own strengths to challenge themselves while helping them to understand their weaknesses to expand and grow.

Jesse Johnson joined Delaware Tech team last year and has been a part of the preparation for the BSE program, which launches this fall. Jesse comes with 13 years of teaching first and second grade in the Cape Henlopen School District. She has a bachelor's degree in communication and a master's degree in elementary education. While teaching in the Cape Henlopen School District, Jesse also served as a grant writer for a 'Healthy Students' initiative and a mentor for an afterschool program for students in need.

The BSE program is the College's second bachelor's degree program and will be offered at the Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown campuses.

PHOTO:
Top row, left to right: Stephanie Jeffery, Timoshanae Rainey, Wendy Turner
Bottom row, left to right: Dr. Katie Gillespie, Megan Sherman, Jesse Johnson