Carol Vukelich, Ph.D. Southern Illinois University
Director, Delaware Center for Teacher Education.

Dr. Vukelich, in addition to serving as the Director of the Delaware Center for Teacher Education, is the Hammonds Professor in Teacher Education, a Professor in the School of Education, Co-director of the Delaware Writing Project, and Co-director of the Delaware Early Reading First and Opening Doors to Literacy projects. Dr. Vukelich teaches courses in the teaching of writing. Preparing teacher education candidates for reflective practice and building young children's early literacy skills are her current research interests. Her recent publications include three books on early literacy and a series of articles on the reflective practices of preservice literacy teachers.

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Barbara VanDornick received a Bachelor of  Science in Education with a minor in French from Millersville University and a Master of Education in Counseling from Western Illinois University.  Since coming to the University in 1972, she has served as an academic advisor, student teacher supervisor, and director of the Office of Student Services for Teacher Education.  Currently, she monitors the recruitment and retention of candidates in the University’s professional education programs; provides support services to professional education faculty, staff and students; and serves as the University’s certification officer. In addition, Barbara is the Project Director of the Teacher Quality Enhancement grant.

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Lisa Albert
Early Literacy Coach

Lisa Albert is an Early Literacy Coach with the Delaware Center for Teacher Education's Opening Doors to Literacy (ODL) program. She earned her Master's Degree in Reading in August 2008. She comes to the coach position with a decade of classroom experience.

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Bonnie Albertson, Ph.D. University of Delaware
English Education faculty member

Bonnie (vita) left an 18+ year career in teaching to join the Delaware Center for Teacher Education in 1998. Initially, Bonnie was the Teacher Co-director of the Delaware Writing Project and an instructor for Teaching Reading and Writing at the Middle Level. Then Bonnie helped create the Delaware Reading Project to serve the needs of Delaware's school teachers as they seek help in secondary reading instruction. As a Program Coordinator for both the reading and writing projects, much of Bonnie’s time was spent working in “partner” schools helping teachers to implement research-based best practice in their reading and writing instruction. Bonnie has taught and supervised student teachers for the English department, and she has a secondary appointment in the Education department, teaching graduate courses as needed. Currently, Bonnie is assigned to the Teacher Quality Effectiveness grant, developing program evaluation tools, teaching Praxis II preparation seminars, and working with teachers to develop curriculum units for Special Education teachers.

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Katrin Blamey
Early Literacy Coach

Katrin Blamey is an Early Literacy Coach for the Delaware Center for Teacher Education. Katrin completed her BA in English Literature at Randolph-Macon Women's College in Lynchburg, VA, her MA in American Studies at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and her MA and Ph.D. in Education at the University of Delaware. Her research interests include oral reading, fluency, content area literacy, adolescent literature, and literacy coaching.

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Kathryn Bostock, MA Curriculum and Instruction

Kathryn Bostock is the Coordinator for the Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) program.

Kathryn is the Project Coordinator for the Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQE) program at DCTE, where she assists special education teachers to become highly qualified in the core content subjects they teacher. Prior to joining the Delaware Center for Teacher Education, Kathryn Bostock taught special education for 16 years at the middle and high school levels. She is also currently teaching GED courses at Groves Adult High School in the Appoquinimink School District. Kathryn has a BA in Biology from the University of Delaware and earned certification as a special education teacher through UD's Special Institute for Teacher Certification. Kathryn also holds an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus in science and special education. She is currently working on a degree in horticulture and landscape design

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Beth Breylinger

Beth Breylinger is a Staff Assistant in the Alternative Routes to Certification Program.

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Kimberly Cavallio

Kimberly Cavallio is a Staff Assistant in the Office of Clinical Studies.

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Margaret Dillner, MS University of Delaware
Director, Education Resource Center

Margaret Dillner (vita) is the Director of the Education Resource Center, providing materials for preschool to grade 12 educators both on and off campus, and is the Program Co-ordinator for the School Library Media Certification Program.  Her particular area of interest is adolescent and children's literature. She initiated the Book Examination Site where new books may be read, examined, and reviewed for one year following their release.  One of the sites of the state-supported Delaware Teacher Center is located in the back of the ERC.

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Brenda Dorrell MS, Curriculum & Instruction
Early Literacy Coach

Brenda Dorrell joined the University of Delaware after 12 years of teaching in private and public education. Brenda is an Early Literacy Coach with the Delaware Center for Teacher Education and is mentoring teachers in the New Castle County Head Start program to build their capacity for teaching literacy to early childhood students. Brenda completed a BS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and an MS in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership, with a focus on early childhood literacy, through the University of Delaware.

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Dawn Downes, Ed.D. University of Delaware
Program Coordinator, Delaware Reading & Writing Project

Dawn joined the staff of the Delaware Reading and Writing Project after working in public schools for 15 years as both an English teacher at the secondary level and an instructional coach, specializing in literacy, assessment, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design. As a project coordinator with DWRP, Dawn collaborates with educators in university-school partnerships, supporting teachers as they work to implement best practices in reading and writing instruction in both English classrooms and across the curriculum. Dawn also serves on the Delaware Student Testing Program's ELA Development Committee, creating test items for the 10th grade reading and writing assessment.

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Christine Evans, Ed.D. University of Delaware
Program Coordinator, Delaware Reading & Writing Project

Christine (vita) joined the Delaware Center for Teacher Education in 2000 after leaving a 25 year teaching career in Delaware's public schools. Before that, she was an instructor for Reading and Writing in the Primary Grades at the University of Delaware. As Project Coordinator for both the Reading and Writing Projects, much of Christine's time is spent working in university-school partnerships helping teachers implement research-based best practices in their literacy instruction. Christine served first as a member and then as the 3rd grade chairperson for the Delaware Department of Education, ELA Steering Committee, beginning in 1996. This committee is responsible for developing the reading and writing portion of the Delaware Student Testing Program.

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Joan Faull

Joan Faull is an Administrative Assistant for the Delaware Center for Teacher Education.

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Kathleen Feldman

Kathleen Feldman is a Secretary for the Delaware Center for Teacher Education.

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Rob Grey, JD Widener Law School
Assistant Director, Office of Clinical Studies

Rob Grey currently works as the Assistant Director in the Office of Clinical Studies, helping to coordinate early field placements in schools. Prior to this, Rob served as the Coordinator of the Teacher Quality Enhancement program. Rob came to the University in early 2006 after 12 years teaching special needs students in grades 3 through 10, in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, with the last 5 years spent teaching 8th grade students in the Red Clay School District, where he also served as Technology Coordinator, Chair of the Instructional Technology Team, and Instructional Technologist. Rob received his BS in elementary and special education from the University of Delaware and his JD from Widenter Law School. He is currently pursuing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, with a focus on Educational Technology.

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John Hartman, Doctor of Education, Immaculata University
Director, Office of Clinical Studies

John Hartman came to the DCTE from West Chester University where he was Assistant Dean, directing the Teacher Education Center. Dr. Hartman served in public education as a high school teacher, assistant high school principal, K-12 curriculum director, middle school principal, elementary (including year-round) principal, associate director of human resources and assistant to the superintendent. Most of his career was spent in Pennsylvania school districts, including Wissahickon, Springfield (Delco) and Penn-Delco. John has coached high school basketball, baseball and softball. John was a successful administrator for 5 years at the Granite School District in Salt Lake City, Utah. In higher education, John has fostered numerous partnerships and professional development schools in southeast Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia School District. He has taught undergraduate and graduate coursework at St. Joseph's, Temple and West Chester Universities.

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Linda Hughes, Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania
Coordinator, Alternative Routes to Certification in Delaware

Linda Hughes (vita) received her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hughes taught at the University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University, Millersville University, and the University of Delaware before becoming Coordinator of the Delaware Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification program. Her interests include children's play and folklore, and the dynamics of girls' play groups.

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Barbara Ligatti, M.Ed. University of Delaware
Clinical Coordinator, Masters Plus Certification Program

Barbara Ligatti received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Shippensburg University and a Master's Degree in Exceptional Children Education from the University of Delaware. She joined the Delaware Center for Teacher Education in 2007, after 38 years working in Delaware Public Schools as a special education teacher and instructional support facilitator. Barbara is responsible for many aspects of the MPCP initiative, which is an alternative route to certification and a Masters degree in teaching exceptional students. As well as on site supervision of teacher-interns, Barbara maintains communication with professors, staff, students, school districts and applicants. Barbara also provides on line coaching in the Instructional Collaborative Team Process for the University of Maryland.  Her main interest is intervention methods, materials and assessment.

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Christine McBride, MSLIS Syracuse University; MS Pennsylvania State University
Assistant Director for the Education Resource Center

Chris McBride is the Assistant Director for the Education Resource Center.  Chris has a Master of Science in Physiology from Penn State and earned a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Syracuse University in 2005. As Assistant Director, Chris processes and catalogs the materials that are added to the Education Resource Center collection.

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Kathleen Melvin
BAED, University of Delaware; MED, Shippensburg University
Project Coordination - Project SMART

Kathy accepted the position of Project SMART (Science and Math Academy for Recruiting Teachers) coordinator at the University after a 30 year science education career in both Pennsylvania and Delaware. She left the public school system in order to serve as the co-director of the Science Van Project for the Delaware Department of Education.  Following her retirement from DOE, she served as the Director of the National Science Olympiad at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. 

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Fran O'Malley, MI University of Delaware
Director, Delaware Social Studies Education Project

Fran O'Malley, (vita) Director of the Delaware Social Studies Education Project (DSSEP) and Curriculum Specialist for the Democracy Project, received his Master's of Instruction from the University of Delaware in 2000. Mr. O'Malley was Delaware's 1997 State Teacher of the Year and is a James Madison Fellow. His interests are social studies curriculum development, constitutional studies, and civics education. Mr. O'Malley teaches social studies methods and serves as a curriculum specialist for the Democracy Project Summer Seminar and the DSSEP Integrated Social Studies/Reading Summer Institutes for teachers.

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Lynn Paul

Lynn is the Staff Assistant for Delaware Early Reading First and Opening Doors to Literacy Projects.

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Heather M. Kitchen Rush, M. ED. Math Education
Limited Term Researcher

Heather is a Researcher/Coach with the Delaware Center for Teacher Education and is working with Preschool Centers in the New Castle Head Start Program. She is working with the staff to provide professional development, coaching and support with the aim to improve children’s mathematic skills. Heather joined the University after spending a decade working with every level of mathematics in public and private settings.

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Marie Senff

Marie Senff is the Administrative Assistant for the Delaware Center for Teacher Education.

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Shirley Stotko

Shirley Stotko is a Staff Assistant for the Delaware Center for Teacher Education.

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Melva L. Ware, Ph.D. St. Louis University
Director, ASPIRE

Melva L. Ware has primary responsibility for developing equity and access strategies that improve opportunities for students from a range of backgrounds to pursue degrees in education. As director of the Acaademic Support Program Inspiring Renaissance Educators (ASPIRE), Dr. Ware has focused an interest in longitudinal guidance interactions to establish outreach into schools and the broader community that engages high-potential students as early as the sixth grade in college planning sessions. Her current work involves designing academic support and professional development opportunities for University of Delaware students, who are preparing for careers in education and youth development. Aiming to nurture an interest in teaching and a commitment to enroll in University of Delaware teacher education programs, Dr. Ware has also created an internship program for competitive high school juniors and seniors. The program was piloted in summer 2008 with a small cohort of high school seniors. All members of the original cohort are currently enrolled in teacher education degree programs, with half of them enrolled at the University of Delaware. Prior to assuming responsibilities at the University of Delaware in December 2000, Dr. Ware was an assistant professor in the division of Teaching and Learning at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Her research has examined the impact of urban education policy, and she has written about social, political, and curricular factors that influence schooling outcomes for African Americans. Her publication record includes commercially published curriculum for middle schools students.

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Martha Buell , Ph.D
Associate Professor, Individual & Family Studies

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Dr. Han is currently a co-director of the Delaware Early Reading First Project and the Opening Doors to Literacy Project, both funded by the U.S. Department of Education, and is a faculty member in Human Development and Family Studies. She is currently teaching IFST 222 Early Childhood Curriculum, IFST 306 Reading and Writing in ECE. She received a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy and M.Ed. in Early Childhood. Her research interests are early childhood literacy development and play. She is an advocate of balanced literacy instruction within a developmentally appropriate practice.

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Amy retired from a varied career in Maryland to join the Center for Secondary Teacher Education in 2006. After graduating from the University of Delaware, she served as an English and Special Education teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools. Then, she worked as a Transition Specialist at the local and state levels, planning and implementing practices to smooth the transition between secondary school and adult environments for students with disabilities. She was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Interagency Transition Counsel, serving as Co-Chair from 2000-2006. As Transition Consultant to the 54 schools in the Maryland Association for Nonpublic Special Education Facilities, Amy organized conferences and provided technical assistance. Amy is recognized as a national expert on the subject of parent involvement during the transition years, issuing publications and delivering numerous presentations/workshops at the local, state, and national levels. Her responsibilities at the CSTE include providing professional development on inclusion of students with disabilities within the new NCCVT District, St. Georges Technical High School. Amy teaches at the university and coordinates the Special Education option for undergraduate secondary education candidates. During the summer, Amy facilitates special education professional development opportunities for Delaware secondary teachers.

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Colleen Quinn, M.Ed. Temple University
Early Reading First Literacy Coach

Colleen is working on a special literacy improvement grant with The Center for Disabilities Studies and the College of Education and Public Policy. She will consult with New Directions Early Head Start partnership programs to enhance language and pre-literacy development in infant and toddler programs. Prior to this placement, Colleen was a Literacy Coach with the Delaware Early Reading First grant at the Delaware Center for Teacher Education where she supported the development and skills of Head Start teachers in the areas of preschool language and literacy. Colleen came to UD with many years of experience as a Title 1 Coordinator, Reading Specialist and teacher in Pennsylvania schools.

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