Delaware
Here are the nominees for Delaware Teacher of the Year
The 2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year will be announced at a ceremony Oct. 15.
The premier teacher in the First State will be named next month.
On Oct. 15, the state will announce the 2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year.
All 19 school districts will nominate a teacher, who submits a detailed application exemplifying their teaching philosophy.
One teacher will represent the state’s 24 charter schools.
Five Delaware Department of Education staff members and five former state teachers of the year independently evaluate each application, and a former state teacher of the year and department staff member observe each candidate in the classroom.
Taking into consideration the scores from the application review and observations as well as a recorded presentation by the nominees, another independent panel of non-department judges then recommends to the Secretary of Education the one teacher who will serve as the 2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year.
That teacher is Delaware’s representative in the national program.
The winner gets a $5,000 grant to use for the educational benefit of his or her students and a personal grant of $3,000.
All nominees get $2,000 from the state.
Last year, Cory Hafer from Appoquinimink School District’s Middletown High, was named teacher of the year.
Here are this year’s candidates:
Appoquinimink: Tamara Walker of Redding Middle (mathematics)
Brandywine: Janette Madison of Springer Middle (mathematics)
Caesar Rodney: Kaysi Anderson of Simpson Elementary (fourth grade)
Cape Henlopen: Kristin (Krissy) Patton of Milton Elementary (literacy)
Capital: Abdallah Celestin of Dover High (French)
Charter Network: Stephanie Sherman of Sussex Academy (science)
Christina: Stacey DiIenno of Marshall Elementary (kindergarten)
Colonial: Shelby Borst of William Penn High (social studies)
Delmar: Ashley Bennett of Delmar Middle (mathematics)
Indian River: Deborah Treherne of Howard T. Ennis School (special education)
Lake Forest: Brent E. Carter of Chipman Middle (English language arts)
Laurel: Joseph Wenke of Laurel High (English language arts)
Milford: Diana Dill of Mispillion Elementary (first grade)
New Castle County Vo-Tech: Bradford Paik of Howard High School of Technology (science)
POLYTECH: Emily Green of POLYTECH High (social studies)
Red Clay Consolidated: Kristen Tosh-Morelli of Forest Oak, Johnson, Marbrook and Richey elementary schools (band)
Seaford: Brent Evans of Central Elementary (fourth grade)
Smyrna: Lauren Steerman of Sunnyside Elementary (kindergarten)
Sussex Technical: Meghan Feliciani of Sussex Technical High (English language arts)
Woodbridge: Kelly Ruse of Woodbridge High (art)
Click here for photos of each nominee.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
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Salesianum’s James Dempsey breaks down win in NCCo boys 1,600
Dempsey won in 4:11.24, which moved him to third on the state all-time performance list.
The Padua and Tatnall girls and the Middletown and Saint Mark’s boys will defend their state titles at the 2026 DIAA Track and Field Championships on May 15 and 16 at Dover High.
Here is a look at the history of the meet with the most recent champions.
Which school has won the most Delaware outdoor track and field state championships?
With 21 Division I titles, Salesianum has won the most boys outdoor track and field state championships. Padua has won 25 state championships, including 23 Division I titles.
Who are the winningest Delaware high school outdoor track and field coaches?
Tatnall’s Patrick Castagno has led the most state championship teams with 12 girls titles and four boys titles. Padua’s Marnie Giunta has won 13 girls state titles.
Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at bholveck@delawareonline.com.
Delaware
Buffalo woman pleads guilty to charges in connection with vandalism at The Terrace at Delaware Park
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Buffalo woman has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with vandalism at The Terrace at Delaware Park in October 2025.
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office announced that 40-year-old Stacy M. Matthews pleaded guilty before Buffalo City Court Judge Rebecca Town to one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
Erie County District Attorney’s Office
According to the DA, on October 16, 2025, Matthews drove six juveniles under her care to a business on Lincoln Parkway, and the juveniles, between the ages of 10 and 16, intentionally vandalized outdoor furniture and windows, causing approximately $2,000 in damage to the property.
The DA said that as a condition of the plea, Matthews signed a Confession of Judgment to pay $2,000 in restitution to the victim. Matthews faces a maximum of 364 days in jail when she is sentenced on June 9, 2026 and a temporary order of protection, issued on behalf of the property owner, remains in effect.
7 News spoke with Mike Shatzel, co-owner of The Terrace at Delaware Park, where the vandalism occurred, last October.
“It’s just disturbing that people have nothing better to do than come and just destroy things,” Shatzel said in October.
You can watch our previous story below.
WATCH: The Terrace at Delaware Park vandalized multiple times over the last two weeks
The Terrace at Delaware Park vandalized multiple times over the last two weeks
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 10:58AM
RADNOR TWP., Pa. (WPVI) — A multimillion-dollar home went up in flames in Delaware County.
Heavy flames burned through the house along the 800 block of Lesley Drive in Radnor Township.
Action News has been told that everyone inside the home made it out safely.
The fire appeared to start in the attic, and went to three alarms, as smoke and flames continued to pour from the roof.
It took over two hours to get things under control.
The home is said to be a total loss.
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