Delaware is looking ahead.

Two elementary schools are being honored nationally for student success, from progress toward cutting achievement gaps between groups, to sharpening English language acquisition. All the while, NASA is hoping to attract K-12 learners to STEM and maybe even thinking about rocket science.

In higher education, University of Delaware is marking its first year offering an online graduate certificate in epidemiology. The goal? Build a stronger workforce, better prepared for a future public health crisis like COVID-19.

In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education updates you may have missed.

(Did we miss another good education story? Let me know: kepowers@gannett.com)

2 Delaware schools land national honors

Rehoboth Elementary and Lake Forest South Elementary landed among a host of schools named 2024 National ESEA Distinguished Schools.

The honor comes “for the extraordinary success of their students,” Delaware’s Department of Education shared in a press release. The national association has been highlighting schools since 1996.

Lake Forest School District’s honoree was recognized for closing achievement gaps between student groups and for the academic progress that the students made last school year on standardized tests. Principal Kevin Truitt will welcome the honor.

Cape Henlopen’s Rehoboth Elementary, led by Principal Doris Person, was recognized for serving special populations, while progress toward English language proficiency in particular caught attention last school year.

Next up, these nationally distinguished schools will be honored in a national conference in Texas come February.

Back home in Delaware, DDOE recognized 15 additional schools with “Continued Excellence” awards. Such schools have qualified as a “Recognition School” for the second consecutive year so are ineligible for the recognition award this year.

Check out the full list online.

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UD offers online certificate in epidemiology, aiming for a better-prepared workforce

Palma Bauman described epidemiology like zooming out.

“It’s a part of public health, looking at things from a bigger, broader viewpoint,” the University of Delaware graduate student explained. “So you can really look at specific populations and try to work on disease prevention and promotion based on ‘social determinants of health’ – which are things like socioeconomic status, environmental health, access to healthcare – and these are all things that I think are not talked about enough.”

Structural barriers can prevent equitable access to health care, especially during crisis. Currently working on a master’s degree in public health and epidemiology, Bauman knew she wanted to work in health but couldn’t imagine a doctor’s office. Then COVID-19 offered one more push toward public health.

In the heat of pandemic, epidemiologists played a “critical role” in trying to protect public health, while providing governments and health organizations with necessary data that informed policy and strategy, according to UD.

It also laid bare Delaware’s need for more.

For the first time this year, UD’s College of Health Sciences launched a new “Epidemiology Graduate Certificate,” a fully online program aimed at post-pandemic workforce needs. Across the U.S. right now, less than 15% of this workforce has academic training in public health, according to professor Jennifer Horney.

“Certificate programs give those in the workforce the flexibility to receive a graduate level certification, while remaining in the workforce,” the founding director of UD’s Epidemiology Program said in an email. Given burnout and short hands, Horney said the state must “replenish that workforce with a pipeline of students and professionals, especially with training in outbreak response and disease investigation.”

The one-year certificate program aims at professionals already at work in health fields, as well as students in related fields looking for more expertise in epidemiology. The first cohort has six students.

“During the pandemic, public health workers in many areas like environmental health, substance abuse and maternal and child health were moved into responsibilities related to the pandemic response, due to a shortage of trained epidemiologists,” Horney said, also noting she hopes to gain discounts for staff at partner agencies.

“To be better prepared for future public health emergencies, we need a much more robust workforce with training in epidemiology and biostatistics.”

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Autism Delaware to host ‘Snowflake Soirée’ to boost funds, inclusion

Autism Delaware says mark your calendars for a night in Rehoboth Beach.

“Autism Delaware is thrilled to present The Snowflake Soirée, an unforgettable night set to become a staple on Sussex County’s social calendar,” the nonprofit wrote in a press release. At 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, the festivities will fill Rehoboth Beach Convention Center for “an elegant evening” dedicated to boosting funds and awareness for Autism Delaware’s programs.

Attendees can expect a curated menu, dancing, live music from Jellyroll Band – a powerhouse 12-piece group, according to organizers – as well as a silent auction. You must be 21 or older to go and expect cocktail attire.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Autism Delaware’s website or contact the nonprofit directly at (302) 220-6020. One ticket is $125, with additional sponsoring options.

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Houston: We have a NASA Moon Exploration Challenge for K-12 students

NASA just launched its fourth “Power to Explore Student Challenge.”

The STEM writing challenge invites K-12 students to, first, learn about radioisotope power systems, “a type of nuclear battery that has, for over 60 years, allowed NASA to explore the harshest, darkest and dustiest parts of our solar system and enabled spacecraft to study its many moons,” NASA said in a release. Then, students are challenged to explain, in a short essay, how they’d use RPS to explore one of our solar system’s hundreds of moons.

Submissions, limited to 275 words, are due by Jan. 31, 2025. One grand-prize winner from each grade category – K-4, 5-8, 9-12 – will receive a trip to NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. More information on how to get involved can be found on the competition website.

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ICYMI: Saint Mark’s volleyball player raised $30K for mental health

Maddi Way set up a charity volleyball tournament at her Saint Mark’s High School and raised some $30,324 for mental health awareness in the process, as previously reported by Delaware Online/The News Journal.

The junior linked up SL24: UnLocke the Light Foundation, a vocal organization sharing mental health awareness and resource in Delaware, to organize the “Serving Up Support” tournament. It marked the first of its kind for the school.

Serving Up Support follows a summer of similar events that have supported UnLocke the Light, in memory of former Saint Mark’s student Sean Locke. For this October tournament, Saint Mark’s auditorium filled with students and families, while the lobby packed with SL24 volunteers. Tickets sold at $7 to support the foundation.

Way was inspired by her own experience.

“Most people know me as a fun-loving, energetic volleyball player that is committed to my teammates, coaches and classmates. What they don’t know is that deep down, I struggle,” Way said. “The reason I agreed to speak on this topic tonight is to encourage any of you that are in pain or who are suffering to speak up.”

Her team then topped Newark Charter 3-1, clinching the tournament back in October.

More than Delaware sports: Saint Mark’s volleyball player raises $30K and awareness for mental health

Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.