By Benjamin Rothstein

DOVER — A Kent County educator is reaping some sweet rewards from cookie retailer Crumbl by being named its Teacher of the Year for Delaware.

After over 60,000 nominations nationwide, one individual from each state has been given the honor, including Star Hill Elementary School’s Tiffany McEvoy.

The awardee is a special education teacher in the facility’s early intervention program, which helps children who have been identified as having special needs before they enter kindergarten.

Ms. McEvoy said she was nominated by some parents and co-worker Rebecca Aiello.

“I was completely shocked and surprised and excited, and it made me very emotional because I wasn’t expecting (it) at all,” she said. “It was kind of cool because my kiddos were there when it all went down.”

On May 7, her principal came to her room and surprised her with the prize.

“One of my little girls later was even like, ‘McEvoy, are you crying?’ and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m happy crying. It’s OK.’ She was very concerned about me,” she said.

Ms. McEvoy, a Dover native, has been teaching for nearly 15 years. She graduated from Dover High School, earned her bachelor’s degree at Wilmington University and then her master’s in special education at American College of Education. She has two sons and has been married to her husband for 25 years.

Ms. McEvoy said she takes great pride in her work.

“I think that one of my stronger qualities as a special education teacher is that I try to think about where kiddos are coming from,” she said. “And I try to kind of connect with them and bond with them. Just build on their strength versus focusing on the things that they’re struggling with.”

She remembers students who barely spoke at the start of the year, but by the end of the year, their favorite activity was arranging and rearranging magnetic letters into names and words. She added that she loves to give kids opportunities to learn through play.

Ms. McEvoy always knew she wanted to educate.

“I have pictures of me when I was, like, 4 years old, dressed up in my grandmother’s glasses and her hat, grading papers,” she said. “I struggled a little bit in school when I was younger, and it took a really long time before I found that one teacher that made me feel empowered, like I was good enough, and I could do better and do more. I kind of always just wanted to be able to be that person for somebody else.”

And Ms. McEvoy’s passion is recognized by the people around her.

“She is a phenomenal teacher. She loves her children and wants what’s best for them every single day. She’s an advocate for them,” said Star Hill Elementary principal Darisa Everett. “She most certainly is caring and trusting and patient with them. Shows love but is firm yet fair.”

As part of the Teacher of the Year designation, Ms. McEvoy received a $1,000 check, mini Crumbl cookies to share with her class and lots of Crumbl merchandise.