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| Vol. 19, No. 3 | Sept. 9, 1999 |
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| Vol. 19, No. 3 | Sept. 9, 1999 |
Jeanel D. Starling, former principal of the Lulu M. Ross Elementary School in Milford, has been appointed coordinator of the new Southern Delaware Elementary Education Program being offered by the University of Delaware. As such, she will be responsible for programming coordination, student counseling and teaching.
The program, which began this month, gives undergraduates in Southern Delaware, who are pursuing an elementary teacher education degree, the ability to complete all program requirements in Milford. Designed by the Professional Development School Partnership established between UD and the Milford School District, the program is unique in that during the final two years of a student's studies, he or she will be assigned to an elementary or middle school in the Milford School District.
"Our initial goal was to find a strategy for offering the entire undergraduate elementary teacher education degree in Southern Delaware. We had to find someone with the outstanding qualifications and experience that Dr. Starling brings to the program. The position is a major coup for the University," Robert Hampel, interim director of the UD School of Education, said.
"We are fortunate that Dr. Starling has chosen to join this initiative," Primo Toccafondi, UD's director of programming for Southern Delaware, said. "She and the staff at Ross Elementary have been a part of the planning of this program from its inception and she will make the transition from principal to coordinator without missing a beat."
Starling earned her doctorate in educational leadership from UD in 1993. She has held various educational positions throughout the state for more than 30 years and has been a successful administrator in the Milford District for the past 14.
While principal at Ross, she earned the prestigious National Distinguished Principal of the Year Award in 1998. Under her leadership, the Ross School earned state and national recognition for the HOSTS mentoring program, sponsored the Governor's Technology Celebration and had two teachers earn state recognition.
"The partnering of University and school faculties in planning and implementing this new educational program gives it a strength and uniqueness that benefits the students attending Milford schools, University faculty and participating school faculties. All planning was done with the best interests of the children as a priority," Starling said.
Starling is married and has two grown children. 
-Beth Thomas
