Seaford educator named Delaware 2019 Teacher of the Year

An elementary special education teacher from the Seaford School District was named Delaware’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year Oct. 16 at the annual banquet honoring 20 district and charter teachers of the year at Dover Downs Hotel and Conference Center.

Dana Bowe, kindergarten through second grade teacher for the Sussex County Orthopedic Program at West Seaford Elementary School, is now Delaware’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year.

After the Sussex Orthopedic Program moved to West Seaford Elementary School, Bowe helped start a Spread the Word - Respect campaign at her school, part of a national effort to discourage use of the derogatory word “retard” and to promote acceptance, compassion, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities. This was important for the culture of the school, where some students had not before seen children walking in orthopedic braces, communicating with speech-generated devices or using assistive technologies, she said.

“Sometimes it is difficult to see the initial impact of an initiative. Other times, although it is not blatantly obvious, there is a quiet victory: Students holding hands walking down the hallway; a child in a wheelchair tutoring other children in class; or a regular education student asking a child to be his partner even though they can communicate only through gestures, signs, or the use of a ‘talker,’” Bowe said.

Bowe, who has been teaching for 17 years including five in her current position, shared stories in her application about students who made significant progress in her class.

“Children with special needs are capable of love, friendship, and academic achievement. We must encourage true inclusion with acceptance and kindness. We must see our children without labels and limitations,” she said. “We must discover the greatness that is already inside them and share their greatness with others. We must teach all students.”

Bowe earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in special education from Wilmington University. She also was named the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware 2017 Teacher of the Year.

As Teacher of the Year, Bowe will address community groups, business leaders, legislators and educational organizations to inform the public about the status of Delaware schools. She is Delaware’s candidate in the National Teacher of the Year Program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers sponsored by the Voya Foundation.

By action of the General Assembly, she will receive a $5,000 grant to use for her students’ educational benefit, as well two personal grants totaling $5,000. The remaining 19 school district/charter candidates each will receive a personal grant of $2,000. All 20 teachers also received a gift from Advantech Incorporated.

Bowe also will receive a $1,000 grant for educational/classroom use from American Institutes for Research; grants from the Delaware Association of School Administrators, Delaware State Education Association and the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce; a State of Delaware Teacher of the Year commemorative plate from the Division of Motor Vehicles; a full doctorate program from University of Delaware and Wilmington University; a gold watch from the Delaware State Teachers of the Year Association; a 10-karat gold ring from Jostens; and lunch in Washington, D.C., with U.S. Sen. Tom Carper.

Other organizations that honored the newly selected Teacher of the Year include the Delaware Chief School Officers Association, Delaware School Boards Association and Educators Rising. This year’s celebration was sponsored in part by Voya Financial.