Teachers recognized for excellence

Courtney Farina Fox, CHEP ’98, has been named Delaware’s 2008 Teacher of the Year.

Fox, a first-grade teacher in the Gifted and Talented Program of the Brandywine School District in northern New Castle County, Del., was selected from a group of 19 teachers, one representing each of the state’s public school districts. The district nominees are selected based on their devotion to teaching, excellence in performing their professional duties and the ability to inspire students with a love of learning.

Fox graduated from UD with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, earning certification in both early childhood (birth to kindergarten) and primary (kindergarten to fourth grade) education.

Michael Gamel-McCormick, interim chairperson of the Department of Individual and Family Studies, says her selection as Delaware’s teacher of the year “emphasizes how important it is to have an holistic understanding of children, their needs and their family needs.”

Fox says the University “holds a special place in my heart.”

“I strongly believe it is the foundation I received in the University of Delaware’s early childhood department that has made me the teacher I am today,” she says.

More top educators

Other UD alumni who earned district Teacher of the Year honors are:

Rebecca Lee Feathers, CHEP ’99, Appoquinimink School District; Michele Rene Johnson, AS ’79, Capital; Barbara S. Land, AS ’86, Christina; Charlotte Webb, CHEP ’95, Colonial; Jeanine M. Moore, CHEP ’91, BE ’00M, Indian River; Geralyn Marie Swain, AS ’76, New Castle County Vocational Technical; Frederika Jenner, CHEP ’82M, Red Clay Consolidated; and Bryan S. Denbrock, AS ’94, Sussex Technical.