Cape High’s Chris Burkhart named Cape Teacher of the Year
Cape High band director Chris Burkhart was named the school district’s 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year at a ceremony on May 14 at Frederick D. Thomas Middle School.
He and nine other teachers, each named Teacher of the Year at their respective schools, were in the running for the district title.
“This is incredibly humbling,” Burkhart said after the ceremony. “The other teachers are amazing, and some of them are really close friends and former colleagues of mine. It’s an honor.”
The other teachers and their respective schools were as follows, in the order they were recognized at the ceremony: Greg Berman - Frederick D. Thomas Middle School; Kelley Burton - Milton Elementary School; Conchi Garcia - H.O. Brittingham Elementary School; Deborah Garcia - Love Creek Elementary School; Kaitlyn Nelson - Mariner Middle School; John Parker - Beacon Middle School; Marybeth Peet - Lewes Elementary School; Jennifer Williams - Sussex Consortium; and Tina Windsor - Rehoboth Elementary School.
In terms of a lasting impact on students, Burkhart said he hopes not only to instill into his students a love of music, but also to encourage them to work together and to help them grow in healthy ways.
“Instilling intrinsic motivation, while also creating space to fail, is really important to me,” he added.
He wants to use his new platform to continue advocating for the arts.
The selection process began in January at the school level. Each school winner then developed a portfolio and submitted a video recording of them providing classroom instruction.
Selection committee members included Superintendent Bob Fulton, Assistant Superintendent Jenny Nauman, Board Member Marjorie Belmont, Director of Teaching & Learning Lou Ann Hudson, Supervisor of Elementary Education Amanda Archambault, Supervisor of Inclusive Education Eileen Baker, Supervisor of Secondary Education Michael Young, CHEF Representative Calvin Jackson, PK-12 District MLL Specialist Brynne Baruch, District Secondary Reading Specialist Devon Young and Cape High student Daniel Bila.
“Our staff is second to none,” Fulton said.
Ellen McIntyre is a reporter covering education and all things Dewey Beach. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Penn State - Schreyer Honors College in May 2024, then completed an internship writing for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In 2023, she covered the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand as a freelancer for the Associated Press and saw her work published by outlets including The Washington Post and Fox Sports. Her variety of reporting experience covers crime and courts, investigations, politics and the arts. As a Hockessin, Delaware native, Ellen is happy to be back in her home state, though she enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. She also loves live music, reading, hiking and spending time in nature.
