DSEA awards several recognitions each year during the annual Representative Assembly each March. The recognitions range from outstanding contributions made to public education to individuals who show outstanding member advocacy. Award recipients come from a wide spectrum of public education-focused positions in Delaware, but share the focus of having worked tirelessly to improve the quality of public education in our state.
Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024 to Sandy Dearman (Sandy.Dearman@dsea.org) via scan, fax, email, or delivery to the DSEA Dover Office.
DSEA Awards
The Helen D. Wise Award
The Helen D. Wise Award is DSEA's most prestigious honor. The award is named for Helen Wise, a DSEA member who served as a local leader, a state president, and NEA president. Her leadership skills and connection with members serve as a clarion example for any who dedicate themselves to improving and significantly contributing to public education in Delaware.
Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award
DSEA presents the Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award to a DSEA member who exhibits many of the same characteristics of Susan C. Roushey, an education advocate and avid fundraiser for public education. Roushey was a local leader, a state leader, and served as DSEA's NEA Director. The recipient of the award has a demonstrated commitment to leadership and fundraising for the DSEA and NEA Funds for Children and Public Education.
ESP of the Year Award
The Education Support Professional of the Year award is given to a DSEA member whose activities reflect the diverse contributions of educational support professionals in our public schools. All DSEA ESP members (Classroom Paraprofessionals, Custodians, Transportation, Food Service Workers, Secretaries) are eligible for nomination. The successful nominee will have proactively worked to represent the interests of ESP's at the building, district, and state level.
Community Partner of the Year Award
DSEA's Community Partner Award is presented annually to a local business, organization, or individual who actively works to support public education and build relationships within their community.
Legislative Friend of Education Award
DSEA awards its Legislative Friend of Education honor to an elected official in Delaware who actively supports DSEA's mission of improving public education, builds positive relationships with DSEA members, and supports a legislative agenda that seeks to improve public education.
DSEA Human and Civil Rights Awards
Do you know someone who always goes the extra mile? Someone who always helps out their community, organization, school, etc? If so, now is the chance to let others know how valuable that person is to others!
Through DSEA’s Human and Civil Rights Task Force, two Delawareans are honored – one DSEA member and one individual outside of the organization – for outstanding achievements in Human and Civil Rights. Previous HCR Award winners are excluded.
Any DSEA member, outside organization or member of the general public is invited to nominate such a person by filling out the award application (link at top of page) and including a portfolio of the nominee’s achievements.
DSEA awards several recognitions each year during the annual Representative Assembly each March. The recognitions range from outstanding contributions made to public education to individuals who show outstanding member advocacy. Award recipients come from a wide spectrum of public education-focused positions in Delaware, but share the focus of having worked tirelessly to improve the quality of public education in our state.
CLICK here to download the application packet for this year's DSEA Awards. This is a word document so it will automatically download onto your computer when clicked, there is no pop-up.
Nominations are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024 to Sandy Dearman (Sandy.Dearman@dsea.org) via scan, fax, email, or delivery to the DSEA Dover Office.
DSEA Awards
The Helen D. Wise Award
The Helen D. Wise Award is DSEA's most prestigious honor. The award is named for Helen Wise, a DSEA member who served as a local leader, a state president, and NEA president. Her leadership skills and connection with members serve as a clarion example for any who dedicate themselves to improving and significantly contributing to public education in Delaware.
Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award
DSEA presents the Susan C. Roushey Advocacy Award to a DSEA member who exhibits many of the same characteristics of Susan C. Roushey, an education advocate and avid fundraiser for public education. Roushey was a local leader, a state leader, and served as DSEA's NEA Director. The recipient of the award has a demonstrated commitment to leadership and fundraising for the DSEA and NEA Funds for Children and Public Education.
ESP of the Year Award
The Education Support Professional of the Year award is given to a DSEA member whose activities reflect the diverse contributions of educational support professionals in our public schools. All DSEA ESP members (Classroom Paraprofessionals, Custodians, Transportation, Food Service Workers, Secretaries) are eligible for nomination. The successful nominee will have proactively worked to represent the interests of ESP's at the building, district, and state level.
Community Partner of the Year Award
DSEA's Community Partner Award is presented annually to a local business, organization, or individual who actively works to support public education and build relationships within their community.
Legislative Friend of Education Award
DSEA awards its Legislative Friend of Education honor to an elected official in Delaware who actively supports DSEA's mission of improving public education, builds positive relationships with DSEA members, and supports a legislative agenda that seeks to improve public education.
DSEA Human and Civil Rights Awards
Do you know someone who always goes the extra mile? Someone who always helps out their community, organization, school, etc? If so, now is the chance to let others know how valuable that person is to others!
Through DSEA’s Human and Civil Rights Task Force, two Delawareans are honored – one DSEA member and one individual outside of the organization – for outstanding achievements in Human and Civil Rights. Previous HCR Award winners are excluded.
Any DSEA member, outside organization or member of the general public is invited to nominate such a person by filling out the award application (link at top of page) and including a portfolio of the nominee’s achievements.