Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/124458
Celebrating leadership We honor our champions, partners, leaders For all the banquet photos, go to www.face book.com/dseafan ach year DSEA holds a Celebration of Leadership Dinner the evening before the annual Representative Assembly It gives delegates a . chance to reflect on our values and the people whose lives are a testament to those values. Approximately 200 people attended this year's dinner at the Dover Downs Conference Center, including many state legislators and Lt. Gov. Matt Denn who was our guest speaker. We give special thanks to the Kades Margolis Corporation for sponsoring the welcome reception, and to DSEA-Retired member Diana Ware, pianist, for entertaining us during the reception. E "We owe you the opportunity to be as prepared as possible" – Lt. Gov. Matt Denn Keynoting the evening was Lt. Gov. Matt Denn. "Until you walk your own kids up to the door of school, and turn them over to you, you don't understand the magnitude of the job you do," he said. He said that since he has never worked in a school, he is obligated to see first-hand what goes on. "I know now that the learning environment is critically important to bullying and mental health issues. I am learning that the science of teaching is evolving, with more collaboration and professional development needed, more opportunities to share what you know and do. We owe you the opportunity to be as prepared as possible," he said. John Sell: "Everyone wins when communities thrive around great schools" Delaware's 2013 Teacher of the Year John Sell was an honored guest at the Celebration Dinner, invited to share his thoughts about that honor and education today with delegates. He urged educators to remember that the United States is the envy of the world in education. No matter how battered you might feel, take pride. "You are the true heroes in this world. Thank you!" He thanked his family, friends and colleagues for their influence. "They are why I am here. Working with other teachers, now in Professional Learning Communities, means we no longer work in a vacuum. I know that DSEA values working together, and not in isolation. Thank you!" Sell teaches English Language Arts at Sussex Technical High School. Prior to that he taught at "I had no use for politics until I began working in public education," says Hoffmann, using this opportunity to urge colleagues to put a few dollars in the yellow PAC envelopes on their tables. éSusan B. Roushey Advocacy Awardé Mike Hoffmann ominated four times, Mike Hoffmann currently works as a one-on-one paraprofessional at Southern E.S. in Colonial. He has served since 2007 as treasurer and now vice president of DSEA. On May 1 he will be DSEA's NEA director, representing members on NEA's Board of Directors. Hoffmann lives and breathes political action. He is passionate about increasing DSEA's ability to move its legislative program, and spends countless hours helping candidates we recommend get elected; N and talking to members, both new and veteran, about increasing their donations to our Political Action Committee funds. He credits former DSEA President Barbara Grogg, also a recipient of this award, for showing him how to get people involved in political action: ask them, ask them every time you see them, and then ask them again. And along the way, have fun! Mike Hoffmann is a big reason why DSEA continues to be NEA's highest average per member donor among all of its state associations. ominated by the Capital Paras Assoc., Michael Brown brings respect to all Education Support Professionals by his example at work, in the Association and throughout the Dover community . Brown works as a special needs paraprofessional at Central Middle School in Dover. He serves as vice president of his local association, as well as a member of the DSEA Exec. Board. After attending NEA's Emerging Leaders Academy, he said he wanted to give more. "If you want to see things happen, you have to get involved," he says. He credits the Association with helping him build skills he also uses at work and in the community . He is artistic director of Dover's Inner City Cultural League, and manages their Sankofa African Drum and Dance Company He also . is the lead drum instructor for the Boys and Girls Club, an organization that, he says, helped save him. Brown's passion is helping at-risk students succeed. At the Boys and Girls Club, he runs a program that uses drumming to help kids develop social and emotional skills. Brown also chairs Dover's AfricanAmerican festival and the Capital City Gospel Festival. N Michael Brown thanks his family, friends and mentor, Reuben Salters, "who are always supporting my endeavors." éESP of the Year Awardé Michael Brown 12 March/April 2013 DSEA ACTION! www.dsea.org