College Celebrates Bachelor of Science in Education Year-Long Residency Program

To celebrate the first group of students participating in its Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) year-long residency program, Delaware Tech held a kickoff event on Aug. 23 to include BSE faculty, staff, and students, College administrators, participating school district representatives, and other special guests.

The event featured the 29 resident students and their host teachers and included remarks from Delaware Tech President Mark T. Brainard, Delaware Secretary of Education Mark A. Holodick, and College Vice President for Academic Affairs Justina M. Thomas.

“We are looking forward to learning about these students’ experiences during their residencies, and we can’t wait to see them graduate next spring and begin their teaching careers, right here in the great state of Delaware,” Dr. Brainard said.

During their residency, students will experience an enhanced version of student-teaching at elementary schools across the state by starting on the first teacher day and staying for the entire school year. Traditional student teaching runs for less than a semester. Participating school districts include Appoquinimink, Caesar Rodney, Cape Henlopen, Capital, Colonial, Indian River, Milford, Seaford, and Smyrna, as well as Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School in Newark.

“It is an exciting time for the College, our students, and the state of Delaware,” said Dr. Timothy Mello, director of the BSE program. “There is a need for qualified teachers in Delaware and this residency will provide our students with more hands-on learning and a better overall clinical experience, which will result in a better education for children in Delaware classrooms.”

Delaware Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education program began in fall 2022. The College developed the program in response to a request from the state’s public school superintendents who were looking for ways to address the nationwide teacher shortage impacting Delaware. The program currently has about 80 students enrolled who have already completed an associate degree program in education. The first graduates from this program could be teaching in Delaware classrooms next year.

Learn more about Delaware Tech's Bachelor of Science in Education program.

PHOTO: A group of students in the Bachelor of Science in Education (BSE) year-long residency program with their BSE instructors at a celebratory kickoff event.