DOVER — Twenty of the state’s top teachers will be honored at a celebration Tuesday, when one of them will be named Delaware’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

The candidates were nominated by their districts or the Delaware Charter Schools Network during the 2022 calendar year because of their superior abilities to inspire students with a love of learning, exemplary demonstrations of professional traits and strong senses of dedication and devotion to teaching.

Each nominee submitted a detailed application explaining his or her teaching philosophy, and five Department of Education staff members independently evaluated each submission. Also, a former Delaware Teacher of the Year and department member observed each candidate in his or her classroom.

Taking into consideration those ratings, as well as recorded presentations by the nominees, another independent panel of nondepartment judges then selected the one teacher who will serve as Teacher of the Year.

The educator chosen will become Delaware’s nominee in the national program, a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.

By action of the General Assembly, the winner will receive a $5,000 grant for the educational benefit of his or her students, as well as a personal grant of $3,000.

Additionally, all nominees will receive a $2,000 grant from the state.

The celebration Tuesday, at Dover’s Modern Maturity Center, begins with a social hour at 5 p.m., followed by dinner. The announcement of the Teacher of the Year will come at the end of the night.

Funding for the ceremony is provided by a grant from Voya Financial and support from the General Assembly.

The 2023 nominees are:

• Appoquinimink — Elizabeth Kelly Koch of Louis L. Redding Middle School (American sign language).
• Brandywine — Uchechi Amudipe of Concord High School (career and technical education).
• Caesar Rodney — Missy Snyder of Maj. George S. Welch Elementary School (second grade).
• Cape Henlopen — Rony Flechier of Cape Henlopen High School (math).
• Capital — Amy Bowen of North Dover Elementary School (fourth grade).
• Charter Network — Daniel Primiani of Academia Antonia Alonso Charter School (social studies).
• Christina — Jennifer Cohen of the Brennen School (special education).
• Colonial — Beth Twardus of McCullough Middle School (math).
• Delmar — Mary Pierce-Cass of Delmar High School (science).
• Indian River — Jennah Truitt of Lord Baltimore Elementary School (kindergarten).
• Lake Forest — Lindsey Saxton of Lake Forest High School (agricultural science).
• Laurel — Erin Razzano of Laurel Middle School (English language arts).
• Milford — Ashley Lockwood of Lulu M. Ross Elementary School (fifth grade).
• New Castle County Vo-Tech — Greta K. Humphrey of Delcastle Technical High School (special education).
• Polytech — Amanda Waggoner of Polytech High School (Spanish).
• Red Clay Consolidated — Terri T. Pruitt of Cab Calloway School of the Arts (English language arts).
• Seaford — Kiara Briggs of Blades Elementary School (kindergarten).
• Smyrna — Lindsey Alexitch of Smyrna High School (social studies).
• Sussex Tech — Matthew Lewis of Sussex Technical High School (social studies).
• Woodbridge — Sarah Burress of Phillis Wheatley Elementary School (fourth grade).