New Castle County Vocational Technical School District
2021-2022 YEAR IN REVIEW
2021-2022 YEAR IN REVIEW IN THIS REPORT 03 Greetings from the Superintendent & Board President
04 2021-2022 Highlights
05 Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022
11 Hodgson Vo Tech is a Superstar in Education
12 Standout Students
13 CTE Highlights
14 Business Partnerships
15-16 Looking Back, Moving Forward
17 NCCVT Diversity Task Force
18 Our Focus for 2022-2023
19 Staff Highlights
Greetings from the Superintendent and School Board President Dear NCCVT Community, As we enter into what many are calling a New Normal, we have much to celebrate. Despite the uncertainties, obstacles, and, frankly, fear we all faced a year ago, our District thrived during the 2021-2022 school year. By moving forward together, we accomplished a great deal and created even more opportunities for our students and by extension our county and state. Here are some examples: We celebrated 1,068 graduates in the Class of 2022 from our four outstanding high schools - Delcastle, Hodgson, Howard, and St. Georges - and hundreds more from our adult programming. We recorded the highest number of applicants for 9th grade in our history. The state approved our funding request to build a new, state-of-the-art Hodgson Vo Tech that will better serve the community. We worked with approximately 400 business partners to create opportunities for students and alumni and serve as a pipeline to the workforce. We wrapped equity into our Instructional Services team and created a new division for student services, including social-emotional learning and supports. We introduced a new career program area, Teacher Academy for K-12, and created partnerships to add two more next year, Physical Therapy Medical Assistant at Hodgson and an exciting 1+1 information technology program at Howard that will provide a full year of college credit for enrolled students. 756 students participated in co-operative employment during their senior year, truly earning while they learned. We partnered with the City of Wilmington on an important and groundbreaking initiative to help revitalize Wilmington housing. Delcastle’s outdated library became a state-of-the-art media center, and Hodgson’s dental lab area was completely remodeled. We added a turf field at St. Georges, improved air filtration systems in all buildings, and committed to having the most beautiful, pristine school buildings in the state. None of this would have been possible without our dedicated staff, students, families, School Board, business partners, and the greater community. New Castle County Vo Tech truly serves not only the county but the entire state and region, preparing the next generation of doctors, carpenters, metal workers, nurses, entrepreneurs, estheticians, stylists, biologists, electricians, welders, designers, engineers, chefs, teachers, mechanics… The list is far too long to encompass in this space. I encourage you to visit our website, www.nccvotech.com, or search for #nccvtworks on social media to follow us as we continue to serve the community as the leading provider of career and technical education in the state. Best wishes, Joseph M. Jones, Ed.D. NCCCVT Superintendent
Yvette Santiago. M.S. President, NCCVT Board of Education
Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022! On May 31 and June 1, NCCVT proudly held commencement exercises for Delcastle, Hodgson, Howard, and St. Georges. On the following pages, we will share information and photos from those celebratory days.
Quick Facts about the Class of 2022
1,068 graduates 1,093 career certificates earned 15% of graduates were offered full-time employment right out of high school 6% enrolled in trade school or apprenticeship programs 74% enrolled in college 3% are entering the military 756 members of the class participated in cooperative employment, earning while they learned
Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022! 2022 Valedictorians and Salutatorians DELCASTLE TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL Valedictorian: Nevina Bradley Salutatorian: Dylan Blevins HODGSON VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL Valedictorians: Michael Beckley, Ailyn Lopez, and Jamie Pacheco Salutatorians: Shakira Cruz Lopez and Angel Selby HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY Valedictorian: Ayanna Harris Salutatorian: Briana Hernandez-Cuevas ST. GEORGES TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL Valedictorian: Majjie Cheung Salutatorians: Arianna Baez, Brady Bloch, Antonio Rivera, Emma Swift, and Maya Vanderslice
Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022!
Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022!
Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022!
Congratulations to the NCCVT Class of 2022! NCCVT is more than four outstanding high schools. Our Adult Education Division offers a wide range of academic, apprenticeship training, certification, and technical training programs to help County residents gain skills and training and to help provide skilled workers in vital industries. Apprenticeships A total of 1,239 students were enrolled in 27 independent merit and union apprenticeship and technical training programs this year, with a graduation rate of 97% of those eligible to complete their training. 273 of the 288 graduates studied in the construction trades. Delaware Skills Center DSC offers rapid training and job placement assistance in Welding, Licensed Practical Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, Carpentry, Computer Network Support, and HVAC. A total of 263 students successfully completed courses this year, and 92% of them already have job offers. James H. Groves Adult High School 88 students ranging in age from 16-61 graduated from Groves this year. They are now going into the military, onto post-secondary education, into apprenticeships, or going right to work full-time. GED Program 11 students ranging in age from 18-57 successfully completed all four sections of the GED. Two of them will continue in the Delaware Skills Center or Apprenticeship programs, and several already received promotions at their workplaces.
Hodgson Vo Tech is a Superstar in Education In March, Hodgson Vo Tech High School was named a 2022 Superstar in Education by the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Hodgson was recognized for its ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentoring Program that introduces students to career opportunities in architecture, construction, engineering, building design, and other related fields. Through the program, students work directly with professionals from leading area firms who volunteer their time weekly from November to early March to mentor student teams. The program includes classroom lessons, hands-on experiences, field trips, and a final team project. This year, the students presented their ideas for a 91,300 square foot space in a mixed use site (Barley Mill Plaza). The final projects had to include an oral presentation, physical model, building floor plan, construction timeline and cost estimates, and interior/exterior finish boards. Congratulations to everyone involved at Hodgson and to our business partners, without whom ACE could not exist.
Standout Students We are proud and pleased to introduce the 2022 Delaware Secretary of Education Scholars from NCCVT! Each year, the Secretary of Education selects students from each school's graduating class based on their academic achievements, community service, and work ethic. The 2022 NCCVT Scholars were: From Delcastle Technical HS: Dylan Blevins, Nevina Bradley, and Alaina McPherson From Hodgson Vo Tech HS: Ailyn Lopez and Jamie Pacheco From Howard HS of Technology: Ayanna Harris and Briana Hernandez-Cuevas From St. Georges Technical HS: Vincent Helms and Imani Wulff-Cochrane To learn a little more about each Scholar, click on their photos at https://bit.ly/nccvtscholars. Congratulations to Delcastle Graphic Arts students Alejandra Torres (10th grade) and Yushiya Thomas (11th grade), pictured below, for winning first place in the DART Annual Transit Themed Poster Contest. This year's contest celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Stuff the Bus PLACE food drive. Congratulations also to Delcastle students Langley Grace Marvel and Noelle Evans, who placed first and second respectively in the graphic arts category of the annual conservation poster contest! The contest, sponsored by the DE Association of Conservation Districts and DNREC, presented an opportunity for students across the state to convey their artistic impressions about soil, water, and related natural resources based on the theme of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities. Two NCCVT students were selected by the Delaware Higher Education Office as interns in the Delaware Student Success Ambassadors Program! Seniors Ailyn Lopez from Hodgson and Fanta Berry from St. Georges were two of only 10 students from across the state who were chosen to participate. The program ensures student voices are heard when educational reform and equitable conversations take place.
Delaware Student Success Ambassadors Ailyn Lopez (left) and Fanta Berry (right).
Career & Technical Education Highlights CTE Signing Day
While many NCCVT students choose to further their academic careers by attending college or trade school right after graduating, a large number also enter the workforce to use the skills and knowledge they have gained through hands-on learning during their high school years. This spring, our schools held CTE Signing Days in which students signed letters of intent to join their cooperative employers as full-time employees and contribute to Delaware's economic vitality. (Photos are from Delcastle Technical HS.)
Certifications
The Class of 2022 earned a cumulative total of 1,093 career certifications this year, with some students earning more than one. 443 students, of 41% of the senior class, earned the distinction of Exemplary by maintaining an A or better average in their career program as well as a 3.0 or higher overall GPA. Why are these industry-recognized credentials important? Certification demonstrates a student's commitment to superior professionalism, upholding industry standards, and continued learning. Earning a professional certification demonstrates that a student has mastered the technical skills, academic skills, and employability skills needed to apply their education to the needs of employers.
Union Trades Expo
In early April, more than 100 NCCVT students participated in the Union Trades Expo, held in conjunction with Delaware Building Construction Trades and Junior Achievement. Students in construction career programs learned about job opportunities, apprenticeships, and careers in the skilled trades.
We Get By With a Little Help from Our Friends
NCCVT's 400 business partners provide support in numerous ways: cooperative employment opportunities for seniors, expertise on committees, financial support for equipment repair or purchase, and much more. Here are a few examples of the many ways our students and staff benefit from these relationships.
Howard Students Learn More About Careers in Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
In early April, Howard HS of Technology was proud to host the kickoff of the Making A Difference after-school program. The program, sponsored by DuPont in partnership with Delaware State University and the Delaware chapter of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), provided Howard and DSU Early College High School students with eight weeks of experiential learning and mentoring to help high school students pursue careers in the legal, law enforcement, forensic science, emergency medical services, and policy fields. Howard Principal Kyle Hill stated, “A key part of education is providing students with the skills and opportunities to recognize a challenge and then use critical thinking skills to solve the challenge. Partnerships like the one Howard has with the DuPont Foundation and DSU and programming like Making A Difference help us provide rich learning experiences for our students.”
Nursing Opportunities with Younger Patients
11th grade Nursing Technology students at Hodgson Vo Tech completed an exciting new clinical rotation at Nemours Children's Health System. Over the course of three weeks, a total of 22 students spent time at Nemours working with children, a departure from the adult patients they typically interact with. In addition to taking vital signs and interacting with the patients and their families, the students visited several outpatient clinics including pulmonary therapy, adolescent medicine, and disordered eating. Many thanks to our School Board President Yvette Santiago for her support of this exciting new opportunity for our students.
New Food Safety Program at St. Georges
St. Georges' Biotechnology career area has established a partnership between St Georges Biotech and Delaware State University's Food Science Program. DSU has provided biotech with new lab equipment (microscopes, autoclave, PAGE gels, spectrophotometers, PCR machines, and centrifuges). In return, Biotech has added a food safety curriculum to the agriculture segment of the curriculum.
Boot Camp 2 Work
Delcastle's juniors participated in the first-ever Boot Camp 2 Work in April, hearing from industry professionals and engaging in role play and hands-on learning to help them successfully prepare and apply for cooperative employment positions beginning this summer and extending into their senior year. The weeklong program workforce development initiative culminated with a Career Fair with nearly 80 employers accepting resumes and applications on the spot. As a result of the Career Fair, 72 job offers were extended to Delcastle students.
Honoring Our Past While often thought of as a single case, Brown v. Board was a portfolio of cases brought by five communities across the country to desegregate American schools. In late March, two speakers shared Howard High School of Technology's proud history and current successes during a lunchtime webinar, Brown v. Board: A Tale of 3 (Delaware) Schools. In addition to sharing history about the case, the session included updates on the National Trust's work to preserve and tell the full story of Brown v. Board. Since the time of the webinar, federal legislation co-sponsored by Senator Chris Coons was enacted and signed by President Biden to help share the full history of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which led to the end of the separate but equal doctrine in public education and mandated the desegregation of public schools. Brown v. Board was a portfolio of five cases. The Brown v. Board
National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act creates National Park Service Affiliated Areas in Delaware, Virginia, and the District of Columbia for sites associated with Brown v. Board and expands the NPS’s existing National Historic Site to include the related sites in South Carolina. More than 50 years after closing its doors, H. Fletcher Brown Vocational High School has a home of sorts again – in the school that was built to replace it in 1970. Delcastle Technical High School has created a showcase of Brown memorabilia, artifacts, yearbooks, photographs, and heirlooms donated by alumni. The items are part of a permanent display outside the Delcastle auditorium. Coordinated by social studies teachers David Battafarano and Don Rufo, along with several other staff members, students, and Brown alumni, the memorial provides a space for proud Brown graduates and their families to visit and creates a link from the past to the present for current and future Delcastle students. This spring, Delcastle and NCCVT were pleased to welcome several Brown alumni to witness the showcase's unveiling.
What's New in NCCVT
Partnering with the City of Wilmington to Revitalize Its Neighborhoods
NCCVT signed a groundbreaking and important Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Wilmington early this year, pledging to recruit and train 25 City youth, age 16-24, to revitalize neighborhoods, housing, and vacant buildings as part of the City's $50 million residential redevelopment and stabilization plan. The city has given a $300,000 grant to NCCVT to cover student resources such as certifications, apprenticeship materials, uniforms, tools, boots, transportation costs to and from a project site, and other necessities for the 25 students to work effectively on the revitalization project, and any training that’s needed. If the students need tutoring or a counselor, the grant money will cover it. The budget also covers the salary for NCCVT's Supervisory Liaison to the project, Colleen Conaty. Ms. Conaty has served as an instructor, Assistant Principal, Interim Principal, and CTE Supervisor during her tenure with NCCVT. In the first year, the student interns must attend a NCCVT school and reside in the City of Wilmington. Starting in year two, the qualifications will expand to include any students or young adults living in Wilmington. The selected students' hourly salaries will depend on certifications, credits earned, and placement status in an apprenticeship program if applicable. Thanks to the hands-on learning that happens every day in NCCVT schools, the selected NCCVT students will not be required to take additional courses to train them for the revitalization work. This summer, instructors from NCCVT's Delaware Skills Center facilitated OSHA training for the first cohort of student interns.
New Career Programs Meet the Needs of Delaware's Labor Market
NCCVT is committed to meeting the needs of Delaware's employers and residents through meaningful, experiential learning in relevant industries. This year, NCCVT added a new Teacher Academy for K-12 career program to help prepare Delaware's and the region's future educators. Launched this year at Delcastle, the program will expand to Howard HS of Technology in the 2022-2023 school year. Howard students also will benefit from a new Information Technology program in conjunction with Delaware Technical and Community College, earning up to 30 college credits during high school. At Hodgson, students will be able to enroll in a new Physical Therapy Medical Assisting career program. Upon completion of this new career area, students will gain experience in both physical therapy careers as well as medical administrative careers to help care for Delaware's residents.
NCCVT Diversity Task Force (The FAM) NCCVT’s Diversity Task Force, aka the FAM, kicked off the 2021-2022 school year with FAM Fairs at each school to create awareness, recruit new members, and have fun. The FAM – Forever A Movement – is a student led group that was created with four specific goals in mind: • To offer a safe space for courageous conversations to be fostered • To commit to a culturally responsive environment • To serve as a liaison between students and administration • To create action steps to ensure that ample measures are taken towards diversity, equity and inclusion Unity Starts with U is the motto that FAM members live by. The first exercise of the year was Affinity Group Executive Training that focused on establishing norms and expectations, developing agendas and activities, and building up student leaders, who will run the Black Student Unions, PRIDE Clubs, Latinx Unidos, Boys to Men Groups, Ladies Club, and Christian Clubs in their schools. In late October, approximately 75 student leaders from across NCCVT gathered at Howard for Unity Day. Unity Day was organized and led by students to develop their leadership skills, ensure student voices are heard across New Castle County Vo Tech, make connections, and reinforce the notion that all students in Delcastle, Hodgson, Howard, and St. Georges are part of a unified district. The morning featured three student leaders speaking on the topic of what unity means to them, in addition to a keynote address by a clinical psychologist. Their comments reinforced the theme of Unity Day, We Are More Alike Than Different, and empowered the students in the audience to work together to advocate for the changes they want to see in their schools and community. After the morning session, the students worked in smaller groups with fellow student leaders as facilitators.
Our Focus for 2022-2023 This year, the District leadership team embarked upon a Strategic Development exercise to establish our focus for the upcoming school year. As COVID clearly demonstrated, situations can change in an instant, rendering even the most clearly thought-out plans obsolete. By focusing on strategic development rather than a three-year or five-year strategic plan, NCCVT is able to remain agile while staying true to four focus areas, our Core Four: Teaching & Learning, Operational Stewardship, Strategic Design, all embedded within a framework of Diversity, Equity, and Wellness. All of the District's 2022-2023 goals and initiatives will support the Core Four.
2021-2022 Staff Highlights Delcastle's Greta Humphrey is the NCCVT Teacher of the Year
Greta Humphrey is the 2023 NCCVT Teacher of the Year. Ms. Humphrey is an English Language Arts and Social Studies special educator in the Specialized Transition to Employment Pathway program (STEP). She will now represent the District in the State TOY competition in the fall. Ms. Humphrey was selected from an outstanding group of educators, each of whom was selected as their building Teacher of the Year. They are Michael Pollock from Hodgson, Jamai Robinson from Howard, and Jackie Czachorowski from St. Georges. Congratulations to all!
NCCVT's Behavioral Health Professional of the Year is Tenika Jean-Paul Tenika Jean-Paul, school psychologist at St. Georges, was selected as NCCVT's Behavioral Health Professional of the Year and represented NCCVT in the state competition. Also nominated and highly recommended for the recognition were Diana Kwacz from Howard and Shannan Beck from Delcastle. Ms. Jean-Paul is pictured with Principal Chad Harrison and Superintendent Joseph Jones.
NCCVT Educators Recognized at the State Level Felicidades to Sra. Bonita Green, Delaware's Foreign Language Teacher of the Year for 2021! Sra. Green teaches Spanish at Hodgson Vo Tech. Two of our athletic directors were honored this school year. Congratulations to Hodgson AD Dave Collins, the Delaware Athletic Director of the Year, and St. Georges AD Mark Robinson, the Award of Merit winner. And congratulations to Ms. Bonnie Lane, Delcastle Technical HS health and physical education teacher, who has been named the SHAPE Delaware Health Education Teacher of the Year for the third time. The prior two times, she was named National Runner Up and National Health Education Teacher of the Year!
Ms. Humphrey learned of her recognition as the District TOY when she was surprised in her classroom this spring by some of her students as well as Delcastle and District administrators.
Our staff members are a big part of the reason why #NCCVTworks.
2021-2022 Staff Highlights Lindsay Craighton is NCCVT's Educational Support Person of the Year
The 2021 Delaware School Counselor of the Year is Kirsten Coughlin
Join us in congratulating our 2022 Educational Support Persons of the Year: Kristina Delorme, Delcastle; Mike Marshall, Howard; Kim Scott, Hodgson, Lindsay (Gliniak) Craighton, St. Georges; & Kim Damiani, District Office. From that group, Lindsay Craighton was selected in October as the District's 2022 ESP of the Year. She is pictured below with St. Georges Principal Chad Harrison and Assistant Principal Frank Hanson.
The celebration was delayed more than a year due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, but Howard's Kirsten Coughlin was officially recognized in February as the 2021 Delaware School Counselor of the Year!
District Restructuring Focuses on Equity and Social Emotional Learning to Best Serve Students & Staff Outstanding Dietitian of the Year NCCVT School Nutrition Specialist Angie Jackson was named Outstanding Dietitian of the Year by the Delaware Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in early May.
Dr. Clifton Hayes Named NCCVT Director of Operations & Personnel Dr. Hayes has more than 22 years of experience working at all levels of public education. He has been a supplemental instructor, teacher, dean of students, principal, adjunct professor, and consultant. He most recently served as principal of Delcastle Technical High School.
In July 2021, NCCVT restructured to place a heavier emphasis on both Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as well as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and mental health supports. Dr. Shanta Reynolds now serves as Director of Teaching, Learning, and Equity. In addition to supervising all curriculum and academic responsibilities, professional development, and new teacher orientation, Dr. Reynolds also is the District's Equity Officer and leads NCCVT's DEI work. Ms. Terri Villa is the new Director of Student Supports and District Programs, overseeing the admissions process as well as Consolidated Grant, strategic planning, open house, student services, wellness centers, technology, and more. She also oversees the newly created position of SEL Coach, which has been filled by former Delcastle counselor Mark Wells. Mr. Wells focuses on supporting the social emotional needs of both students and staff.
Career Program Overview Business, Communication, & Computers Academy of Finance & Business Business Technology Computer Network Administration
Digital Media Graphic Arts IT Academy Web & Print Technology
Construction Technologies Building Automation Carpentry Electrical Trades Heating, Ventilation, and A/C Welding/Fabrication Technology
Industrial Mechanics/Millwright Technologies Masonry Plumbing Sheet Metal Fabrication
Health Services
Athletic Healthcare Health Information Technology Biomedical Science & Allied Health Medical Assisting Dental Assisting Nursing Technology Emergency Medical Services Surgical Technology
Public & Consumer Services Cosmetology Culinary Arts Legal Administrative Assisting Legal Support Services
Production & Imaging Technology Teacher Academy for Early Childhood Development Teacher Academy for K-12
Science, Energy, & Drafting Technologies Academy of Manufacturing/ Pre-Engineering Biotechnology
Transportation Auto Body Auto Technology Auto/Diesel Technology
Chemical Lab Technology Technical Drafting & Design
Aviation Technology Engine Technology
NCCVT
At A Glance
All 40 career programs offer 10 credits over three years of comprehensive training 6 traditional curricular areas (English, math, science, social studies, Spanish, health/physical education) 400 business partners Adult Education Division 96% graduation rate 27 industry-recognized credentials Paid cooperative job placements during senior year Dual enrollment opportunities to earn apprenticeship or college credits during high school
NCCVT Board of Education Yvette Santiago, President Madeline Johnson, Vice President Cheryl Dennis Hon. Robert Gilligan Hon. James Johnson Nello Paoli Mark Stellini Dr. Joseph Jones, Superintendent, Executive Secretary
#NCCVTworks Address
1417 Newport Road, Wilmington, DE 19804 Telephone
302-995-8000
Website www.nccvtworks.com Social Media Search for #NCCVTworks