Vision 2015 Conference Summary – iEducate Delaware Awards Presentation

We were pleased to celebrate the 2013 Honorees during lunch at this year’s Vision 2015 conference. Paul Herdman, our President & CEO, gave an overview about the iEducate Delaware initiative, explaining its story. Last year, we launched this initiative to unearth incredible stories of Delawareans who are inspiring young people to learn, with the hope that others will be inspired to by the Honorees to do the same.The inaugural  Honorees were Audrey Carey, Margaret O’Dwyer, Sarah Preston, Tracey Roberts, and Lori Roe. This year, after public voting for fifteen finalists, five outstanding individuals who are quietly making a difference both inside the classroom and out were recognized, selected as the 2013 iEducate Delaware Honorees.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn introduced the Honorees, sharing a personal reflection of his own interactions with each of the Honorees. It was impressive how a public servant of his stature was able to provide a special story for each of them and is a credit to Denn’s engagement with schools and educators across the state.

The 2013 iEducate Honorees are:

• Tara Amsterdam, a teacher a Wilbur Elementary School in the Colonial School District, personalizes learning in her classroom to improve student learning and achievement.
• Tameca Beckett, a youth services librarian at Laurel Public Library, established the Get Your MESS (math, engineering, science, and social learning) On! program to encourage learning skills.
• Matt Farina, a teacher at Mount Pleasant Elementary School in the Brandywine School District, created fitness programs for the school and a Brandywine School District Elementary Fitness Festival, which was open to the local communities.
• Samuel Heed, the Senior Historian and Director of Education at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, promotes the “Starting a Colony” lesson plan, helping bring local and national history alive for Delaware students.
• Jacqueline Lee, the principal at Gallaher Elementary School in the Christina School District, focuses on a whole-child wellness approach to help improve student learning and achievement.

Video profiles of the Honorees premiered during the lunch presentation. These profiles are featured on our YouTube page.

Related Topics: Vision 2015 conference summaries 2013