Resolving the shortage of teachers and creating a pipeline for education leaders is a complex issue. Wilmington University’s multi-pronged partnership with Appoquinimink School District harnesses WilmU’s commitment to boosting careers through education that is relevant and accessible, from students who are still in high school to teachers contemplating their next step on the career ladder.

“The partnership between Wilmington University and Appoquinimink School District has grown tremendously over time,” says Dr. Matthew Burrows, Appoquinimink superintendent. “From the beginning, our district has been wholly supported by WilmU’s focus on supporting students and their success. We’re fortunate that our partnership serves two types of students: our high school students on the path to college and our teachers advancing their degrees, elevating their craft, and preparing for leadership roles. Having programs for both our students and teachers conveniently housed at our very own district buildings has made all the difference to ensure these opportunities are accessible to everyone.”

Dr. Tyler Wells, dean of the College of Education and Liberal Arts, says programs are tailored to the school district’s needs. Initiatives have evolved over the past four years as the ties between WilmU and Appoquinimink have become a trusted professional friendship.

“It’s a deeply integrated and engrained relationship,” Dr. Wells says.

Dr. Jennifer Palmer leads WilmU’s National Board-Certified Teacher (NBCT) programs. The initiative allows educators to develop the skills they need to become experts in their fields, a status achieved by less than 5% of teachers nationwide. Teachers who complete certification also receive a 12% pay increase. Currently, 11 teachers in the district are working on submissions to the board.

“The teachers I have engaged with at Appo have been stellar,” she says. One of them is Colleen Barrett, who is working on her national certification in Early Adolescent to Young Adult Science. She says the opportunity to go through the National Board courses with colleagues from the Appoquinimink District was invaluable in helping her to succeed.

“Having peers to work through the ins and outs of portfolio components and then provide feedback and suggestions to one another made a very challenging process seem more achievable,” she says. “The cohort became a support team of fellow teachers within our district and buildings that cheered each other on and provided encouragement when we needed it most. The National Board coursework and instructors helped me focus on not just attaining certification but really pushed me to reflect on how I could improve my teaching practices in ways that would benefit each of my students sitting in my classroom right now.”

Corey White, an instructional coach at Odessa High School, earned her master’s in School Leadership through WilmU’s collaboration with Appoquinimink, which allowed her to take classes on-site within the school district.

“Having classes in our district buildings made it easier, as a mom of two, to go from work to class and still get home to do bedtime. The convenience, value, and opportunities that come from completing this program made it an easy decision to sign up,” she says.

White also enjoyed working in a cohort that included teachers of all levels and areas of study. Together, they explored issues that are relevant to school communities. “Being in a cohort with a blend of teachers from all subjects and levels in our district offers a variety of viewpoints that are invaluable to an aspiring administrator,” she says.

Appoquinimink’s “Grow Your Own” model through the Delaware Department of Education’s Pathways program nurtures the educators of tomorrow who will return to their hometown districts to teach. Students finishing the Teacher Academy Pathway program, an immersive program that prepares them to be teachers through classroom experience and other hands-on learning opportunities, receive more than a high school diploma. They are presented with contracts for contingent job offers.

Students who complete the pathway are eligible to be substitute teachers in the district straightaway. After two years of college, they are qualified to be paraprofessionals. After completing their bachelor’s degrees and teacher certifications, they have a standing full-time job offer with Appoquinimink.

Angelie Ross-Jimenez, a Middletown High School grad, was presented with a full scholarship to WilmU. She got a head start by earning college credits during her senior year of high school. WilmU also paid for a summer class before she started her freshman year.

By the time she was 19, Ross-Jimenez had earned her associate degree and a job as a paraprofessional at an elementary school while she completed her degree in elementary education. “I was able to get ahead in speeding up my associate since I took my Praxis exams and passed, receiving 19 credits,” she says.

Life events often derail dreams of earning a degree. But WilmU’s commitment to flexibility ensured Ross-Jimenez could keep her education on track while becoming a mother.

“Being at WilmU helped me continue my schooling and complete my bachelor’s with the birth of my first baby. Freshly postpartum, I was able to take my class at home while still on maternity leave and not have to forsake my education just because I had a baby,” she says. “Along with this, because I am on a full ride, I do not even have to worry about the finances. I can continue working hard. WilmU and Appo have done so much to support me through all the seasons of life, and I am thankful.”

Dr. Edward R. Small, director of Human Resources at Appoquinimink, says the pathway program transforms entire families.

“When the students receive their teacher contracts, their parents are so happy they often cry,” he says.

Lindsay Rice, senior director of academic partnerships at WilmU, says the program frequently results in students finishing their degrees in only three years. Because students can earn their degrees faster, college expenses are lower. Students can also begin making money sooner.

Dr. Burrows says the productive relationship between his district and WilmU can serve as an example of how innovative universities can benefit public school systems and their communities nationwide. He anticipates a long and fruitful relationship that will flourish in years to come.

“I look forward to our continued partnership as both WilmU and Appoquinimink School District continue to grow,” he says.

—Eileen Smith Dallabrida