At "Superstars" banquet, innovative teachers honored

A high school program that sets kids up for a career in computer science, a method of helping parents who are learning English get more involved in their kids' education, and a group of charter schools developing a new teacher-evaluation system are among the six programs that were honored Monday by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce as "Superstars in Education."

The annual banquet is the business community's way of celebrating educators who have innovative ideas to improve schools.

"Since 1992, we've recognized educators who are doing something special," said Rich Heffron, the Chamber's president. "Tonight, we celebrate teachers who stood up to the plate and took the lead. Educators who had the courage to try something different and think outside the box."

The six winning teams were picked from among 30 nominations by a panel of Chamber members. They include:

• The Teaching Excellence Framework, a coalition of four charter schools that has created an alternative framework for teacher evaluations. The schools include EastSide, Thomas Edison, Prestige Academy and Kuumba Academy charters.

• Lake Forest Agriscience, a program at Lake Science High School that gives students hands-on experience with specialized agricultural technology, like agricultural power and systems, animal science and plant and environmental science.

• The Computer Science Career Pathway at Appoquinimink High School, where students learn computer skills that will set them up to get a degree or certification in the tech industry after high school.

• The Business Networking Event at Brandywine Springs Middle School, where seventh-grade students designed business plans and held a networking event where they demonstrated those plans to attendees.

• The Viking Initiative for Innovation, or "ViFi," an effort at St. Elizabeth High School to put more technology, like iPads, in the hands of students, to make lessons more exciting and engaging.

• The Capital Adult ESL/Family Literacy Program in the Capital School District, which worked with the Polytech School District to help parents who are learning English gain the literacy and parenting skills they need to be involved in their kids' education.

The event, which has previously been hosted in fancy hotel ballrooms, was held in the state-of-the-art new auditorium and theater at Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington.

The reception beforehand was catered by students, and the ceremonies featured performances from a student singer and dancers.

"It's important that we celebrate the great work going on all over the state," Gov. Jack Markell said. "To those of you in the room who are educators, we know that you're being asked to do an incredible amount, and we are very, very grateful for what you do every day."

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@delawareonline.com, 324-2428 or on Twitter @TNJ_malbright.