Preschool Special Education teacher Rebecca Vitelli named Delaware’s 2020 State Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Rebecca Vitelli, who has just been named Delaware’s 2020 State Teacher of the Year. This remarkable educator is a preschool Special Education teacher in the Colonial School District.

Rebecca teaches at the Colonial Early Education Program in New Castle. Her youngsters deal with autism, cognitive challenges, and health issues. Rebecca says she strives to be inclusive in her teaching. She firmly believes that every students has the drive and the ability to learn.

“Teachers must remain consciously present listeners and encouragers,” declares Rebecca. “Many of my students begin school without the ability to speak. However, this in no way means they have nothing to say. We teach children to express themselves in a multitude of ways. We show them that communication is powerful, and that others will listen and value what they have to share,” she continued.

Rebecca came from a family of educators. Bother her parents are teachers. She earned both her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and her Master’s degree in Education at the University of Delaware. Her career has spanned only four years, but already her work has captured the attention of state-level educators.

Rebecca was selected out of a group of 20 teachers, one from each district and one from a Delaware charter school. As this year’s honoree, she will receive a $5,000 grant to use for the educational benefit of her students, and two personal grants totaling an additional $5,000.

Read more about the remarkable Rebecca Vitelli at this link: Delaware’s State government website. Take a look at the short video below where Rebecca shares her philosophy of learning.