Superstars in Education & Training

PHOTOS BY NICK WALLACE PHOTOGRAPHY

THERE IS NO QUESTION that a healthy economy requires a strong workforce. A skilled and educated workforce draws businesses to Delaware and encourages existing businesses to stay and expand here. Whether college-bound or preparing for a technical or trade job, individuals must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be successful. Superstars in Education and Training seeks to celebrate innovative programs that contribute to developing the state’s workforce— of today and tomorrow.

Since 1989, the awards program has been recognizing educational programs for innovative and impactful programming. An award is given to one independent training and certificate provider, a higher education program, and a Delaware high school. Awards of Excellence are also granted to deserving companies. This year saw a record number of applicants go through the rigorous application process—five programs came out on top.

The 19 members our selection committee met over the course of three months to choose our honorees. The rigorous process included reading and grading applications, meeting to discuss the merits of each application, and finally, making site visits for a firsthand look at the finalists in action. Our selection committee returned full of excitement and stories from the site visits.

The 2023 Superstars in Education and Training award winners—all of which exemplify creativity and efficacy in workforce development initiatives—are Jobs for Delaware Graduates, Delaware Technical Community College, and Odyssey Charter School. The Delaware Skills Center and Early College School at Delaware State University were also named as Award of Excellence recipients.

The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s 501(c)(3) workforce development affiliate, The Partnership, Inc., works to foster private sector involvement in education and workforce development to ensure the First State has a sustainable pipeline of talent. Delaware Principal for a Day, Superstars in Education and Training, Intern Delaware, and the Delaware Young Professionals Network are its four flagship programs.

Jobs for Delaware Graduates, Inc. (JDG) is a school-to-work transitional program dedicated to helping youth reach academic and economic success. The program exposes middle and high school students to emerging careers and higher levels of education and training. Students who participate in JDG receive weekly in-class instruction, credit towards graduation, leadership development, community service, career coaching, and access to internships, job shadowing, and paid work experiences. The JDG model has been replicated in 39 states, leaving a footprint across 1,500 communities nationwide. Their national affiliate, Jobs for America’s Graduates, is a state-based organization dedicated to preventing dropouts among at-risk students.

The Patient Care Assistant Pathway Program at Delaware Technical Community College is a 600-hour, two-year, comprehensive program conducted in partnership with school districts across the state. This certificate-to-associate degree training program consists of classroom instruction, lab practicum, and supervised activities in clinics, long term care facilities, and other health care agencies. Students become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) within the first six months of the program, earn a Phlebotomy credential mid-program, and a Patient Care Technician (PCT) credential by the end of year two. Upon program completion, students are also eligible to earn up to 11 college credits towards a degree program at Delaware Tech.

The Food Studies Career and Technical Pathway (CTE) at Odyssey High School is one-of-a-kind in Delaware. The pathway’s goals are for participants to see food as a reflection of society’s values and priorities; to understand the importance of food as a foundation for individual, community, and environmental wellbeing; and to see food as an avenue for empowerment, citizenship, and social justice. The feature experience for the students is working in the Hydroponic Learning Lab, where they are introduced to cutting-edge technology through sustainable urban farming. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Odyssey Charter School has donated more than 7,000 pounds of fresh produce and distributed more than 6,000 meal kits for people in need.

DELAWARE SKILLS CENTER Independent Training and Certificate Provider

EARLY COLLEGE SCHOOL AT DELAWARE STATE UNIVERSITY Higher Education

Wilmington University

Tech Council of Delaware

Better Business Bureau Serving Delaware

Chinwe Solutions

Pepco Holdings Company

Goldey-Beacom College

Talley Middle School

Relay Graduate School of Education

Horn Entrepreneurship at University of Delaware

Delaware Secretary of Labor

The Carlin Collaborative

Delaware Charter Schools Network

Food Bank of Delaware

Bank of America

Department of Education

Holmes Smith Consulting Services, Inc.

Delaware Workforce Development Board

Delaware State University

Ursuline Academy, retired