2026 DOE Educational Support Professional of the Year to be Named

The Delaware Department of Education is honoring 19 educational support professionals for their work in schools across the state. The  annual Delaware State Educational Support Professional of the Year Program recognizes staff such as paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, nutrition workers, IT staff, and district-employed bus drivers and aides. Each district or charter winner receives a $2,000 award and moves on to compete for the statewide honor, which includes an additional $3,000 plus $5,000 for student programs. This year’s state winner will be announced at the ESPOY celebration on December 1st in Dover. The new honoree will succeed the 2025 winner, Melissa Wilson, a registration assistant at Smyrna Elementary School. The event will be live-streamed following the dinner portion of the evening; likely this will begin around 7:10 p.m.