Learning Through Connection
Photos by Evan Krape and courtesy of Jonathan Gillock and Audrey Price June 04, 2026
91原创鈥檚 Teacher Residency program partners with Delaware teachers, supporting high-need Delaware schools through professional mentorship
Learning and connection. That鈥檚 what drew Juliet Samuel, now a high school chemistry teacher at Brandywine School District鈥檚 Mount Pleasant High School in Wilmington, to 91原创鈥檚 .
Housed in the (CEHD) and funded by the Delaware Department of Education, the program allows teacher education students to pursue yearlong, paid student teaching experiences in Delaware schools.
鈥91原创 stood out to me because of its strong Teacher Residency program and emphasis on practical, hands-on learning and mentorship,鈥 said Samuel, who studied secondary STEM education. 鈥淐oming from Nigeria without prior knowledge of the U.S. education system, this program provided me with the guidance and support to successfully navigate a new educational environment and adapt my teaching approach.鈥
The residency program offers many benefits, from an immersive teaching experience to opportunities to join professional learning communities. But one of the most notable is the special relationship residents develop with their teachers. Through this mentorship, the program strengthens teacher retention, alleviates teacher shortages and supports high-quality instruction across all three counties in Delaware.
Powerful pairings
Samuel was paired with Robin Rimback, a chemistry teacher at Mount Pleasant, and gradually accepted more teaching responsibility.
鈥淢s. Rimback played a vital role in helping me transition into the classroom by sharing her experiences, offering continuous guidance and creating a supportive environment where I felt comfortable growing,鈥 Samuel said. 鈥淪he gave me the opportunity to be myself and take ownership of the classroom, allowing me to make lessons my own during my teaching.鈥
Now, one year later, Rimback has retired and Samuel was hired to assume Rimback鈥檚 teaching position. Thanks to the residency program, she plans to remain teaching in the state, a program goal for all residents.
鈥淚 hope to continue teaching in Delaware long-term, as I have built strong connections here and I am passionate about contributing to the community,鈥 Samuel said.
Another exemplary pair is Jonathan Gillock, now a teacher at his middle school alma mater, Fred Fifer III Middle School in Camden, and his mentor, former social studies teacher, Agoston Szabo.
鈥淩esidency opened up many doors for me at my school,鈥 said Gillock, a 2025 graduate of CEHD鈥檚 (EME) program.聽聽鈥淚 had coaching opportunities, references from influential people in the district and more, all because of the residency program.鈥
Working within the Caesar Rodney School District, he took advantage of the teacher residency鈥檚 many benefits. The New Teacher Orientation, for example, provided professional connections while offering Gillock a deeper understanding of the beginning of the school year.聽聽
At Fifer Middle School, he and Szabo developed a complementary relationship 鈥 learning with and from each other as they taught social studies together.聽
鈥淲hen Jon and I talked to each other, sometimes I would re-evaluate myself as well,鈥 Szabo recalled. 鈥淚 would ask myself questions like, 鈥業s this really the best way to teach this class? Am I grading these students correctly? Is this the best method for addressing this behavior issue?鈥 When Jon would question why I did things a certain way, it would help me reassess whether I needed to change as well.鈥
Szabo now teaches drivers鈥 education, and Gillock was hired for his previous position. As Delaware continues to experience a teacher shortage, the residency program helps meet that need 鈥 every resident teaches in a high-needs Delaware school district for three years after graduation.
For Audrey Price, a second grade teacher at Providence Creek Academy in Clayton, the relationship with her mentor teacher, Jennah Truitt, a kindergarten teacher at Lord Baltimore Elementary School in Ocean View, had a lasting impact.聽
鈥淥ne of the most meaningful takeaways from my time in Jennah鈥檚 classroom was a simple yet powerful phrase she repeated every single day: 鈥楳istakes help our brains grow,鈥欌 said Price, a fellow 2025 EME graduate. 鈥淎t the time, I understood how impactful this message was for young learners, but I didn鈥檛 realize just how much it would shape me as an educator, as well. Now, in my own classroom, I鈥檝e made this phrase a core part of our daily routine.鈥
As a longtime teacher in the Indian River School District,聽Truitt values the ways in which the residency program directly supports and enables high-quality teaching statewide.聽
鈥淭he residency program allows us to intentionally develop well-prepared educators who are grounded in a warm school culture,鈥 she said, 鈥渆nhancing trust, inclusivity, vibrant relationships and equipped with real classroom experience.鈥
Addressing a statewide need聽
Since the program鈥檚 inception in 2021, 91原创 has graduated 79 residents, all of whom now work full-time in Delaware schools. In May 2026, the University graduated its sixth cohort 鈥 a group of 19 additional residents 鈥 who will soon begin their teaching positions as full-time employees. Like Samuel and Gillock, many of the residents fill the positions of their mentors as they near retirement or pursue other opportunities.聽
鈥淕raduates of the program teach in Delaware schools, directly meeting the hiring needs of high-need districts across the state,鈥 said , associate director of residencies in CEHD鈥檚 . 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a privilege to work closely with districts throughout the state to support residents both before and after graduation, ensuring they have the tools and relationships they need to thrive. By blending a full-year classroom apprenticeship with rigorous coursework, the program produces better-prepared teachers who are ready to make an impact from their very first day as a teacher of record.鈥
Stephanie Armstrong, a novice teacher educator in the Office of School Support in Red Clay Consolidated School District and longtime partner, agrees. After working with many residents, she鈥檚 observed a bolstered sense of confidence, self-advocacy and preparedness, as well as a deeper connection to their colleagues.聽
鈥淭he residency program is one of the most impactful programs I've seen regarding education,鈥 Armstrong said. 鈥淚 think that it will support filling the teacher shortage because those that are here for a year [of residency]鈥攔eceiving that level of support and nurture鈥攁re more apt to stay. We all know that when people feel connected to a system, they're more inclined to stay.鈥澛
During the 2025-26 school year, the teacher residency program partnered with six school districts across the state, including Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Christina, Indian River, New Castle County Vocational Technical and Red Clay. Next year, the program plans to expand even further.聽
鈥淲e anticipate 26 residents and will be partnering with all the same districts as this year, plus Caesar Rodney School District, Colonial School District, Kuumba Academy Charter District, Laurel School District and Providence Creek Academy,鈥 Constantine said.
To learn more 91原创 degrees in education or professional development opportunities, visit 91原创鈥檚 education pathways webpage, CEHD鈥檚 or CEHD鈥檚 and .
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