DOVER — Dr. Vilicia Cade, the new CEO and superintendent of Dover’s Capital School District, was honored and formally welcomed at an event held at Booker T. Washington Elementary School earlier this month.

During her tenure in education, Dr. Cade has played a pivotal role in leading and overseeing successful school reform and turnaround efforts in the New York City Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Lindop School District, Christina School District and most recently Sandusky City Schools in which the district experienced increased graduation rates and earned the Ohio Department of Education’s “Momentum Award.”

Dr. Eugene T.W. Sanders, chief executive officer and superintendent of Sandusky City School District, Sandusky, Ohio, flew in to introduce her to her new community.

Dr. Cade’s keynote message to the community was titled “Spurring the Audacity of Hope: A Vision for Strategic Partnerships, A Pledge of Unity through Love for All Leaders.”

She wanted this event to not just be about her but an opportunity to honor and include other local women leaders. The honorees were: Dr. Wilma Mishoe, Delaware State University board president; Mrs. Michelle Taylor, president & CEO Delaware United Way; Mrs. Autumn Tuxward, New Castle County EMS; Dr. Susan Bunting, Delaware’s secretary of education; Dr. Sylvia Henderson, former interim superintendent for Capital School District; Dr. Saundra DeLauder, DSU provost and chief academic officer. The program and awards were sponsored by Mr. Lamar Boyce, senior partner for New York Life Insurance Company.

A host of community leaders participated as speakers and attendees welcomed Dr. Cade to her new role in the Capital School District.
Capital School District students also participated in the event through entertainment provided by the Dover High School Pep Band, under the direction of Garrett George, as well as the Little Senators Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Tynisha Hearne, singing the Star-Spangled Banner.

There were presentations made by the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., the William Henry High School Alumni Association, Girls with Pearls, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, The Village, Delaware Chapter and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, Dover chapter. All of the women present wore white with pearls to emphasize unity through love and to show solidarity.

“I am grateful to be surrounded by love as the Capital School District launches a new vision underscored by the core values that my board and I embraced — excellence through equity, unity through love and leadership through inclusiveness,” Dr. Cade said. “During the 2021-2022 school year we will have five priorities: Care, communication, community, continuous improvement and capacity focused on addressing the holistic needs of our students, staff and parents with the community; together we will spur the audacity of hope to uncover the magic of new beginnings.”

Dr. Cade touched on several strategic partnerships that are currently under development and she unveiled multiple initiatives within a new series of “Senators Grow” programming. DSU and Delaware Technical College were named as key partners in the below highlighted programs.

• “Teaching for the Stars”: This program will be customized to meet the mutual needs of both DSU and the Capital School District where individuals grow into teachers. It provides an opportunity for tenured paraprofessionals to grow into teachers through an alternative program on an accelerated timeline. It also features a creative twist by including a youth leadership component that will allow college students and Capital School District secondary school students to aid in helping to address unfinished learning in a cross-age setting. The bedrock of this is aimed at cultivating an increased interest in having Capital students and Delaware State University students ignite a desire to grow into teachers within the Capital School District. Programming includes a vision for a joint Future Teachers of America chapter to strengthen the impact of the unique features of the Delaware State University and Capital School District partnership.
• “Learning to Lead”: This multi-year plan will help match the desire of aspiring administrators at every level throughout the Capital School District to grow into administrators, which will be accomplished through programming that will be offered at Delaware State University. These intention pathways will help build capacity by creating career ladders for individuals who wish to serve our Dover Community.
• “Driving for Success”: Recognizing the national difficulties school districts face with transportation, Dr. Cade will be establishing a partnership with Delaware Technical Community College’s continuing education division. This initiative will enable coaches, facilities staff, custodians, food nutritional workers and other Capital School District employees to grow into drivers. This will allow these employees to increase their wages while aiding the district in addressing a critical need. The partnership is multifaceted as it would also be quintessential to the district’s new Senator Parent University and also offer professional training for secretaries to grow professionally by improving their professional skills to adjust with the evolutions in education post-COVID.

Dr. Cade ended with a vision for galvanizing the Central Delaware Community Organizations, Delaware businesses, other local organization and state government with a call to action for unity through love by identifying two to four shared goals aimed at reshaping and branding the Greater Kent Council to join her efforts to restore the prestige and honor of living, learning and serving in Dover.