The Cape Henlopen School District took a night to celebrate its staff, naming teachers of the year and honoring retirees. Kellyann Palladino, Rehoboth Elementary School art teacher, was named district teacher of the year.

Twenty-six people retired from the district this year and were honored at a May 27 reception at the Baycenter in Dewey Beach.

Building principals honored retiring staff members by sharing short anecdotes about their years in the classroom. The district office honored two retiring administrators before the night’s events culminated in the naming of the district’s teachers of the year.

Heather Allen of the Sussex Consortium, Cherry Barranco of Shields Elementary, Wendy Coverdale of H.O. Brittingham Elementary, James “JR” Doney of Cape Henlopen High School, Kellyann Palladino of Rehoboth Elementary, Linda Rapchak of Mariner Middle School, Jacklyn Shockley of Milton Elementary and Kathleen Swingle of Beacon Middle School were named teachers of the year.

This is Palladino’s first year teaching art. She joined Rehoboth Elementary School this year from Milton Elementary School, where she taught fourth grade.

Palladino, a teacher for 15 years, moved to the Cape Region four years ago. She said art is a personal passion, and this year has been her best yet as a teacher.

She said her students have learned digital photography, made masks and celebrated the Chinese New Year making dragons, using stamps and drawing pandas.

This year, Rehoboth Elementary School teacher Mary Matthes retired, along with Judith Hammond, Bonnie Miller and Karen Simkins of Shields Elementary School. Helena Gibbs retired from H.O. Brittingham Elementary, and Jacklyn Shockley and Kathleen Weiss retired from Milton Elementary.

Lois Johnson and Regina Scanlon, Beacon Middle School teachers, retired, as did Michael Domingues from Mariner Middle School.

Cape Henlopen High School staff Kathryn Barto, William Cordrey, Gayle Fitzgerald, Harold Hovis, Delema Lott, Rebecca Millman, Stanley Mosiej Jr. and Marilyn Swartzel retired. Sussex Consortium staff Mary Anne Finnerty, Kristie LeGates and June McManus also retired.

From the district office, Rachel Burwell, Catherine Davis, Lynda Clifton, Alfred Best, Janis Hanwell and Mark Sudimak retired.

At the reception, Best congratulated the national board certifications of teachers Kathleen Bowski and Kristin Gray and nurse Celeste Slacum.