By Glenn Rolfe

FRANKFORD — Someday, Allison Wright wants to be an elementary school teacher.

“That is the goal, one day,” she says.

Her present role at Indian River High School is a paraprofessional.

And when her current educational journey at Delaware Technical Community College to attain teacher status hits the finish line, her job resume will include Indian River School District 2025 Educational Support Professional of the Year.

On Thursday, Oct. 10, the Ocean View resident, now in her fourth year at Indian River High School, was selected from a pool of 16 nominees, one from each school, during a celebratory recognition event at Seed & Sapling Events Venue.

Ms. Wright is a one-on-one para. She takes her role very seriously.

“I provide emotional support for students. I also help academically, and I also am very big into Unified Sports, which has students with and without disabilities participating in sports,” said Ms. Wright. “It is amazing. It is my passion. I love it. It started out with Unified Basketball at Indian River High School and fell in love with it. The kids are great. It’s a really good time for all the kids. Now we also have Unified Track and this year we added Unified Flag Football.”

Nomination descriptives for Ms. Wright included:

•“The most devoted person I have ever encountered.”

•“Exemplifies grace and kindness towards others.”

•“Always willing to go way above and beyond their job duties.”

• “Having a heart that is beyond measure.”

Those honored included administrative assistants, computer technicians, cafeteria staff, custodial staff, constables, paraprofessionals.

“We’re so proud of all our support professionals. They all play a very special role within their schools. It is a testament to all their hard work and what they do on a daily basis for them to be nominated here tonight,” said IRSD Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens. “They truly are the backbone of their schools and our school district. They help keep us running every day.”

IRSD board of education president Leolga Wright said the nominees being honored go above and beyond.

“Your work does not go unnoticed. At Indian River School District we are raising the bar. So those of you tonight, thank you for the extra mile that you went, thank you for all that you have done and are doing,” the board president said.

“The fact that they are nominated from their school shows that people around them notice,” Dr. Owens said. “They notice their hard work, their dedication, their smiles, their impact on the students within the school and the staff. While they are behind the scenes people are noticing all that they are doing to help our schools.”

No two school days are alike for Allison Wright.

“As soon I walk in, I’m like, ‘Alright, who needs what?’ Somebody might need a little bit more emotional support that day. Somebody might need cleats for Unified Football. I just make sure that all the students feel important and that they have a place,” she said. “It’s about the students. The students hold a special place in my heart. I just love inspiring and helping kids.”

And how did she plan to celebrate?

“With my students,” the honoree said, adding she suspected there might be something cooked up by her friend who is a teacher/Unified coach at IRHS. “I’m sure Loriann Sentman has something up her sleeve, probably!”

As Indian River’s winner, Ms. Wright will represent the district at the statewide level in the Educational Support Professional of the Year Award Monday, Dec. 2 in Dover. Twenty district/charter school representatives will vie for that state honor.

IRSD school ESP honorees

• Jaqulynn Decker, Paraprofessional, Southern Delaware School of the Arts.

• Urias Deleon-Velasquez, Bilingual Paraprofessional, Georgetown Middle School.

• Deneen Drummond, Assistant Chief Custodian (Fireman), Georgetown Elementary School.

• Barry Gaines, School Constable, Phillip C. Showell Elementary School.

• Lori Goodhart, Cafeteria Manager, Long Neck Elementary School.

• Letoya Jackson, Paraprofessional, Howard T. Ennis School.

• Elizabeth Kreiser, Paraprofessional, North Georgetown Elementary School.

• Tammy Mitchell, Administrative Assistant, Selbyville Middle School.

• Nichole Pantuliano, Computer Technician, John M. Clayton Elementary School.

• Emily Quillen, Paraprofessional, IRSD Early Learning Center.

• Laura Reed, Paraprofessional, East Millsboro Elementary School.

• Chris Shelton, Assistant Chief Custodian (Fireman), Millsboro Middle School.

• Krista Showalter, Administrative Assistant, District Office.

• Cindy Wilson, Paraprofessional, Lord Baltimore Elementary School.

• Allison Wright, Paraprofessional, Indian River High School.

• Sherrie Wright, Administrative Assistant, Sussex Central High School.