2019-2020 Ashlee Upp, Allen Frear Elementary

Ms. Ashlee Upp

The Caesar Rodney School District is proud to announce that Allen Frear Elementary School third grade teacher Ashlee Upp has been selected as District Teacher of the Year 2018-2019!

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald stopped by Allen Frear yesterday to surprise Mrs. Upp with a bouquet of roses. Afterwards, Mrs. Upp was surrounded by her students each giving a congratulatory hug.

The process for determining the district’s Teacher of the Year begins with recommendations from students, teachers, parents and administrators at each school building. Building teachers then vote to select the top five teachers. Those nominees then develop portfolios which are then reviewed and scored by a committee of parents, teachers and students from each school. From that process, one teacher in each building emerges as a District Teacher of the Year candidate.

A more in-depth portfolio is then created by each candidate which contains information including: educational history and professional development; awards and recognition; philosophy of teaching; community service; and letters of support. These portfolios are then read and scored independently by administrators, school board members, teachers, parents and students. From this process, candidates emerge as finalists.

Teams consisting of the district superintendent, principals, teachers and parents then conduct classroom observations and interviews with the finalists. Individually, each team member awards an overall score for each candidate. After a discussion and review of all scores, the District Teacher of the Year is selected.

Congratulations to a remarkable educator and person….Ashlee Upp! Go Riders!