Our graduates are leaders in their field; they are valuable citizens of today and tomorrow, independent critical thinkers, societally and ethically responsible, and have a broad understanding of the world. They know how to foster an inclusive and diverse community where different backgrounds and cultures are celebrated, and identities are embraced in order to better prepare their own students for an increasingly diverse and complex world.
Our programs are nationally recognized.
The following programs are nationally recognized by their respective Specialized Professional Association (SPA):
- ACEI (American Association of Childhood Education International) for the Bachelor of Science: Elementary Education (Grades K-6) and Master of Education: Elementary Studies (Grades K-6) Programs
- AMLE/NMSA (Association of Middle Level Education/National Middle Level Science Association) for the Bachelor of Science: Middle Level Education (Grades 6-8) Program
- CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) for the Master of Education: Special Education Program
- ILA/IRA (International Reading Association/International Literacy Association) for the Master of Education: Reading Program
- ELCC (Educational Leadership Constituent Council) for the Master of Education: School Leadership Program
Eight Annual Reporting Measures
-
Impact of P-12 learning & development
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs
Advanced Level Programs - Indicators of teacher effectiveness
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs (1)
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs (2)
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs (3) - Satisfaction of employers and employment milestones
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs
Advanced Level Programs - Satisfaction of Completers
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs
Advanced Level Programs
- Graduation Rates
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs
Advanced Level Programs - Ability of completers to meet licensing (certification) and any additional state requirements
Initial Teacher Preparation Programs
Advanced Level Programs - Ability of completers to be hired in education positions for which they have been prepared
- Student loan default rates and Other Consumer Information
Graduate Impact on P-12 learning and development.
DPAS II is Delaware’s statewide educator evaluation system. As a statewide system, DPAS II establishes consistent educator and student performance expectations and outcomes across all schools.
Out of 5152 DPAS II Evaluations conducted on Wilmington University Graduates from 2014-2018, 1633 graduates EXCEEDED student growth goals with all others SATISFYING student growth goals.
(Source DE Ed Prep Data Warehouse).
56% of Delaware elementary school teachers hold degrees from Wilmington University.
91% of K-12 school leaders in Delaware schools have attended Wilmington University.
Now known as “Delaware’s Teaching College,” the WilmU College of Education has been the higher education choice of seven of the last 10 Delaware Teachers of the Year, including the last seven consecutive award winners.
Praxis Pass Rates
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
Across all programs, Praxis pass rates averaged 96% in 2014–2015, increased to 99% in 2015-2016, remained high at 98% in 2016-2017 and increased to 100% in 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and in 2019-2020.
Average licensure rates.
100%
100%
Wilmington University is proud to confirm a 100% licensure rate for all College of Education graduates from our licensure programs who seek licensure.
Employer Satisfaction Rates
WilmU Graduate Preparedness
96%
of graduates indicate their teacher preparation program prepared them to design instruction/learning experiences that account for individual differences in abilities and backgrounds.
92%
of graduates indicate their teacher preparation program prepared them to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
91%
of graduates indicate their teacher preparation program prepared them to use content knowledge to design, select, or modify formative and summative assessments, which are aligned with instructional goals and provide information about student progress on those goals.
Alumni Testimonials
Wilmington University Teachers of the Year

Dana Bowe
2019 Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. Special Education Non-Cert.
An elementary special education teacher from the Seaford School District is Delaware’s 2019 State Teacher of the Year... [Dana] teaches kindergarten through second grade for the Sussex County Orthopedic Program at West Seaford Elementary School... Read more about Dana

Virginia Forcucci
2018 Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. Career & Technical Education
A high school English teacher from the Sussex Technical School District is Delaware’s 2018 State Teacher of the Year. Read more about Virginia

Wendy Turner
2017 Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. Elementary Studies
Ten years ago Wendy Turner never guessed she’d be Delaware’s 2017 Teacher of the Year, mainly because she was an accountant for 17 years. But she needed a change and switched to teaching. Read more about Wendy

Sandra Hall
2016 Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. Primary Education K-4
This 2016 Delaware Teacher of the Year is passionate about education — and Wilmington University. Read more about Sandra
Megan Szabo
2015 Teacher of the Year
Ed.D. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. School Counseling
Lea Wainwright
2014 Teacher of the Year
Ed.D. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. Applied Technology in Education
Amber Augustus
2012 Teacher of the Year
Ed.D. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. Middle Level 5-8
Joseph Masiello
2011 Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. School Leadership & Instruction
Mary Pinkston
2010 Teacher of the Year
Graduate School Leadership Coursework
Mark Teesdale
2009 Teacher of the Year
M.Ed. Applied Technology in Education
Wilmington University Assistant Principals of the Year

Colleen Conaty
2018 DE Assistant Principal of the Year
Ed.D. Educational Leadership Courses
Colleen Conaty, an assistant principal at Howard High School of Technology, has been named the 2017-18 Delaware Assistant Principal of the Year... Read more Colleen

Dr. Courtney Voshell
2014 DE Assistant Principal of the Year
Ed.D. Educational Leadership & M.Ed. School Leadership
Wilmington University Alumna Selected as Delaware’s Assistant Principal of the Year. Read more about Dr. Voshell

Richard Evans
2012 DE Assistant Principal of the Year
M.Ed. School Leadership
Richard Evans of Sussex Central High School has been named Delaware’s 2012 Assistant Principal of the Year by the Delaware Association of School Administrators. Read more about Richard

Christopher Beck
2011 DE Assistant Principal of the Year
M.Ed. Applied Technology in Education
Chris Beck is the 2011 NASSP/Virco Assistant Principal of the Year for the state of Delaware. Beck is assistant principal at Middletown High School. Read more aboput Christopher
Wilmington University Principals of the Year

Sherry Kijowski
2019 Delaware Principal of the Year
Graduate Certificate in Reading
I think one of the best parts of being a principal is when a fleeting comment becomes an idea, and that idea then becomes an integral part of your school’s DNA... Read more about Sherry

Maribeth Courtney
2018 DE National Distinguished Principal of the Year
MEC Elementary and School Leadership Courses
Maribeth Courtney has served as principal of Evan G. Shortlidge Academy for the last six years, where she has worked diligently to improve instructional practices... Read more about Maribeth

Becky Neubert
2017 DE National Distinguished Principal of the Year
B.S. Middle Level 5-8 & M.Ed. School Leadership
...One teacher at Central Elementary School (CES) says... “[I am] lucky to call my principal a colleague and a friend, as we work together for our kids.” Read more about Becky

Dr. Stanley Spoor
2017 National Association of Secondary School Principals
Ed.D. Educational Leadership, M.Ed. Applied Technology in Education, M.Ed. School Administration
Jennifer Nauman
2016 DE National Distinguished Principal of the Year
M.Ed. School Administration
Neil Beahan
2014 Delaware Middle Level Principal of the Year
M.Ed. Non-Degree School Leadership Courses
Wilmington University Superintendents of the Year

Dr. Matthew L. Burrows
2018 Delaware Superintendent of the Year
Doctor of Education and M.Ed. Elementary Studies

Dr. Mark Holodick
2016 Delaware Superintendent of the Year
M.Ed. Instruction: Teaching & Learning
Dr. Mark Holodick, the Superintendent of the Brandywine School District, received the Superintendent of the year designation by his peers.

Dr. Mervin Daugherty
2015 Delaware Superintendent of the year
Ed.D. Leadership
Before being named Superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools in August 2018, Dr. Mervin B. Daugherty was Superintendent of Delaware’s largest and highest-achieving school district. Read more about Dr. Daugherty
Wilmington University School Counselors of the Year

Kirsten Coughlin
2020 DE School Counselor of the Year
MEC School Counseling
Kirsten Coughlin, the 2020 Delaware School Counselor of the Year! Kirsten is a 2001 graduate of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling masters program at WilmU and has been an adjunct instructor in the program since 2009. Kirsten is a school counselor at Howard High School in the New Castle County Vocational-Technical School District. In addition to providing comprehensive counseling services to her high school students, Kirsten has been a strong voice and advocate for school counselors across the State of Delaware.Read more about Kirsten

Tammy L. Taylor
2019 DE School Counselor of the Year Nominee
MEC School Counseling
A finalist for Delaware School Counselor of the Year from S. Dover Elementary School. Read more about Tammy

Jaqueline Sheridan
2019 DE School Counselor of the Year Nominee
MEC School Counseling
A finalist for Delaware School Counselor of the Year from Mariner Middle School. Read more about Jaqueline

Lisa Street
2019 DE School Counselor of the Year Nominee
MEC School Counseling
A finalist for Delaware School Counselor of the Year from Brandywine High School. Read more about Lisa

Laura Malmstrom
2018 DE School Counselor of the Year
MEC School Counseling
The 2018 Delaware School Counselor of the Year from Sarah Pyle Academy. Read more Laura
Cheryl M. Carey
2016 DE School Counselor of the Year
MEC School Counseling
Jan Bomhardt
2015 DE Elementary School Counselor of the Year
MEC School Counseling
Judith Hayes
2015 DE Middle School Counselor of the Year
MEC School Counseling
Average GPA of Entry Cohorts
3.86
2014 - 2015
3.61
2015 - 2016
3.68
2016 - 2017
3.53
2017 - 2018
3.65
2018 - 2019
3.61
2019 - 2020
Graduates Employed in their primary field of preparation
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
Student Loan Default Rates
The latest Official Cohort Default Rate data issued by the federal government for Fiscal Year 2017 has Wilmington University at 8.9% compared to the national average of 9.7%.