Delaware has a strong, multifaceted strategy in place when it comes to strengthening its educator pipeline. Like other states, Delaware continues to face educator shortages—prompting the Delaware Workforce Development Board to name teaching “a priority, in-demand occupation.” The state has in place some short-term strategies, including 2% percent and $1,875 flat rate increase to the base salary each year, nine-percent salary increase for teachers in next year’s budget, along with longer-term pipeline development and retention approaches.
Recently, the team received the GEAR P3 Innovation and Efficiency Award from Delaware Governor Matt Meyer for leveraging continuous improvement tools to “drive innovation, create best practices, and deliver proven results that are sustainable, scalable, and adaptable to other areas of government” (source).
From the first set of retreats in 2022 with EdScale, the team got clear on their overall approach — retain current educators, develop multiple pipelines into education, and diversify the teacher workforce — all through building capacity and systems.
In subsequent discussions, they identified the framework for the strategic plan that would get those results — and mapped these strategies to the roles and leadership of EdExcel team members. For each strategy, they built out the key milestones, capacity building, and resource needs that have been driving implementation. The following five strategies, anchored in data and continuous improvement, have been the driving force across teacher and leader excellence in the state.
More recently, EdScale has supported a collaboration between the Educator Excellence and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teams to expand teacher apprenticeship pathways (paraprofessional registered occupation and youth registered apprenticeships). In it’s first year, Delaware already has 10 apprentices across two districts in the paraprofessional registered apprenticeship. The CTE Teacher Academy program now provides students with additional opportunities to start working in schools immediately as a paraprofessional and within as early as two years become a certified teacher at no or limited costs. But most importantly through these pathways, schools have the opportunity to see educators in practice and train and support their growth along the way. In high school, almost 3,000 students are enrolled in teacher pathway courses—and their demographics more closely reflect the diversity of Delaware’s student population.
Expanding and improving residency programs in the state as part of traditional higher education pathways into teaching has been another core strategy connected with strategic staffing. Additionally, program reviews have gone deep into the science of reading for early grades and adjustments are underway across the state as a result.
Delaware has invested in induction programs and aligned participation to licensure requirements. Beyond including teachers in induction and mentoring, Delaware has also extended programs and support to specialists in schools.
For school leadership, Delaware has multiple programs and leadership/growth opportunities for current and aspiring school leaders. Additionally, the district Superintendent’s Council brings together district leaders across the state for shared learning and problem solving.
The education evaluation system was revamped over the past few years, based on lessons learned from Race to the Top (Delaware was in the first cohort of two states to be awarded). The system is now squarely focused on instructional feedback and improvement — leading with support to drive learning across classrooms and schools.
This work (and more) was highlighted at the first ever SOLD OUT 2025 Delaware Teacher Pathways Showcase, which provided stakeholders the opportunity to learn about the progress and how these pathways can apply to their own work. EdScale was a proud sponsor of this event.
These are just a few highlights of the great work that has been underway in Delaware for years. EdScale is proud to be a partner with Delaware in this work.
Working with Tom has been a game changer in creating a strategic plan aligned with our vision. As a result, our initiatives are now improving outcomes and receiving national attention.
– Michael Saylor, Educator Excellence, Delaware Department of Education
