School employees who support the mental health of Delaware students are being recognized for their work, as the state will name its first Delaware Behavioral Health Professional of the Year later this month.

Seventeen school districts and the Delaware Charter Schools Network named local Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year for 2022. Following an application and interview process, one of those will be named the state honoree.

“I am grateful that through this new recognition program we now have a way to spotlight the critical support these employees provide to our students and families,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “Due to the nature of their work, these professionals build close, trust-dependent relationships. They help students and families navigate challenges and find the supports they need, so they can be healthy and successful in school and life. The trauma and challenges our students and families experienced through COVID-19 has only grown our state’s already great need for this work. Behavioral health professionals are critical to the success of our schools and communities.”

The Delaware State Behavioral Health Professional of the Year program is administered by the Delaware Department of Education. The program recognizes outstanding service by school employees who are health care practitioners or human service providers who offer services to improve an individual’s mental health. The Delaware Charter School Network also is invited to participate.

Employees considered for the award include counselors, social workers, licensed clinical social workers, psychologists and nurses.

From those nominated at a local level, one Behavioral Health Professional of the Year moves forward to represent each district/charter school community in the state program. Each district/charter network winner receives a $2,000 award from the winner’s district or charter school. The state program then chooses one person annually to serve as Delaware’s Behavioral Health Professional of the Year. State winners receive an additional $3,000 award from DOE, as well as $5,000 to be used for the educational benefit of his or her students.

The 2022 district/charter Behavioral Health Professionals of the Year are:

• Brandywine — Sheila Pickering, school nurse, Forwood Elementary School.
• Caesar Rodney — Maria Romanko, school psychologist, Caesar Rodney High School.
• Cape Henlopen — Felicia Kaas, school psychologist, Shields Elementary School.
• Capital — Andrew Royer, school psychologist, Capital Early Childhood Program.
• Charter School Network — Debbie Holstein, school nurse, ASPIRA Academy.
• Christina — Michelle Cain, school psychologist, Christiana High School.
• Colonial — Devon D. Stockton, school therapist, George Read Middle School.
• Delmar — Ilah Preston, school counselor, Delmar Middle School.
• Indian River — Amy Goodhue, clinical counselor, Long Neck Elementary School.
• Lake Forest — Jana Jarrell, school nurse, Lake Forest North Elementary School.
• Laurel — Catina Goff, school counselor, Laurel High School.
• Milford — Rosa DiPiazza, school psychologist, Mispillion Elementary School.
• New Castle County Vo-Tech — Tenika Jean-Paul, school psychologist, St. Georges Technical High School.
• Polytech — Peggy McKibbin, school nurse, Polytech High School.
• Red Clay Consolidated — Eric Pizzini, school psychologist, Cab Calloway School of the Arts.
• Seaford — Jordan Forston, school counselor, West Seaford Elementary School.
• Sussex Technical — Michael Firch, school counselor, Sussex Technical High School.
• Woodbridge — Dawn Ellis, school nurse, Woodbridge High School.

Appoquinimink School District did not participate in the 2022 program. Smyrna has recognized school counselor Toni Hendricks of John Bassett Moore Intermediate School as its District Behavioral Health Professional of the Year, but the selection was made after the state application, so Smyrna was not included in the state program.