Set for Success
May 11, 2026
School leadership was not something James Wheatley, assistant principal at Sussex Central High School and University of Delaware alumnus, planned to pursue. But as he moved through his teaching career as a math specialist in Indian River School District, he wanted to do more to help his students and fellow …
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Steele Symposium 2026
April 10, 2026
This April, the University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) will host the Marion H. Steele Research Symposium to share and celebrate the innovative research of its undergraduate and graduate students in education, human development and related disciplines. This year’s annual event will take place from 12:30 …
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Delaware Principal of the Year
March 23, 2026
As principal of Springer Middle School and the recipient of the 2026 Delaware Principal of the Year Award, University of Delaware alumnus Sterling Seemans has built a meaningful career in school leadership. But instead of touting these achievements, Seemans approaches each day with humility, gratitude and a deep respect for …
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Research Spotlight: Lauren P. Bailes
March 19, 2026
During Women’s History Month, University of Delaware Associate Professor Lauren P. Bailes is taking a closer look at why males continue to outnumber females in school leadership roles, despite equivalent years of experience. “To our knowledge, this is the first study that examines assistant principals’ applications when they are still …
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Women Leading Delaware Education 2026
March 13, 2026
The University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development’s School Success Center (SSC) will host the eighth annual Women Leading Delaware Education Conference on UD’s Newark campus. The event will be on Wednesday, March 25, at Clayton Hall Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Women Leading …
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School Funding Reform on the Horizon
March 2, 2026
Delaware’s students are facing challenges, and the numbers show it. According to the Nation’s Report Card, reading and math scores have declined over the past decade, putting the state well below the national average. Fixing the problem isn’t simple. But one part of the solution may be updating Delaware’s 80-year-old …
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Research Spotlight: James Bridgeforth
February 26, 2026
During divided political times, a participatory democracy — where everyday citizens influence the policies that affect their communities — seems like a challenging endeavor. But University of Delaware Assistant Professor James Bridgeforth reminds us that this model can exist at the K-12 school board level. And it holds a lot …
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Pioneering Principals
January 12, 2026
Mabel Boutte, now a principal at Etta J. Wilson Elementary School in Pike Creek, Delaware, joined the University of Delaware’s Principal Preparation Program in 2016 hoping to make a greater impact at her school. With research-informed coursework, an action research project, a real-world internship experience and a statewide cohort model, …
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Teacher Retention Challenge
December 15, 2022
Many schools and districts across the nation have grappled with a shortage of teachers and have struggled to retain their staff after five years. Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this shortage as teachers and school leaders struggled with school closures, virtual learning, health concerns and a shortage of substitute teachers …
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Delaware Career and Technical Education
June 12, 2022
Career and technical education (CTE), or educational programs that specialize in the skilled trades, applied sciences, modern technologies and career preparation, offer students diverse pathways to exciting careers in agriculture, architecture, construction, business management, health science, information technology and more. Many CTE programs also offer attractive benefits, such as allowing …
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CEHD Research Spotlight: Gary T. Henry
April 13, 2022
How do the characteristics of principals affect the success of the turnaround schools that they lead? In a recent study, University of Delaware dean and professor Gary T. Henry and his co-authors examine the characteristics of turnaround principals in Tennessee, contrasting an effective, local school turnaround model with a less …
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Learning with Educational Leaders
April 4, 2022
Effective school principals not only foster positive learning environments and improve teacher retention, but also affect student achievement — recent research has found that they add about three months’ worth of growth in students’ math and reading achievement. “Three months of student growth within a school that serves, for example, …
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