Indian River School District names top teacher for 2018

Courtney White, a third grade teacher at North Georgetown Elementary, has been named Indian River's top teacher for 2018.

White was chosen as the district's winner from a pool of 16 candidates, which was narrowed down to three finalists. It was announced Thursday during a ceremony at Indian River High School.

"I am blown away," she said. "With all the amazing teachers that are in our district, to be recognized this way, there is nothing like it."

White has been a third grade teacher at North Georgetown Elementary since 2016. Previously, she was a second and sixth grade teacher in the Seaford School District from 2003 to 2016.

She was the Seaford School District's teacher of the year for the 2010-2011 school year.

During her career, White has been a Delaware Dream Team teacher in 2016, a TeachFest Delaware Spring Academy teacher in 2015 and the co-creator of the Personalized Summer and Intersession Academic Program at Central Elementary School from 2014 to 2016.

She has also been an adjunct professor in the Wilmington University graduate program from 2010 to 2015, a mentor teacher for Wilmington's student teacher program from 2010 to 2016 and an educational technology teacher for the Delaware Tech certificate program from 2004 to 2006.

White has been noted for her use of technology in the classroom. For example, this year, she implemented a video conferencing initiative with a third grade teacher at another school, which allowed students in both classrooms to experience blended learning.

"As a member of the North Georgetown Elementary community, Mrs. White is a great leader and is well respected by her peers," said Heather Cramer, North Georgetown Elementary principal, in a release. "There are many great educators in the Indian River School District that are more than worthy of this honor, but I have met few educators as passionate as Mrs. White.

"I feel she was an amazing addition to our district and we are lucky to have someone with the willingness to continue to learn and grow as an educator. Her classroom environment she has created is one that I wish my own child could have experienced."

Before White was announced as the winner, Lisa Richardson, the 2017 Indian River School District Teacher of the Year, said she wanted to congratulate each of the 16 teachers selected as their building's teacher of the year.

She then shifted her focus to her successor.

"As I pass the torch, I know you will fill my shoes and then some," she said.

During her acceptance speech, White said she was "very lucky" to work with the people in the Indian River School District as well as her fellow teachers at North Georgetown Elementary School.

Rep. Ruth Briggs King said she wanted to express her congratulations to all the finalists and to the families that share their teachers with the community.

"You don't frequently get to hear from us about how proud we are of this district, especially with some of the hardships that we face with funding and with poverty levels," Briggs King said. "And when I think about the challenges in Georgetown, and to see your teacher of the year come from that school, I am very proud."