The Delaware Teachers Institute (DTI) has selected three University of Delaware faculty members as seminar leaders for the 2024-25 academic year.

The seminars provide enriching experiences that inspire and empower K-12 teachers at the six DTI partner school districts in New Castle County, equipping them with fresh perspectives and innovative strategies to enhance their classroom teaching.

• Carla Guerrón Montero, professor of anthropology, will lead a seminar on food, nourishment and identity. The course will explore how food is intricately linked to culture, identity and power dynamics, providing teachers with a comprehensive understanding of these complex relationships.
• Yafei Ren, assistant professor of physics, will explore the captivating patterns found in nature. This seminar will reveal the geometric patterns, symmetries and topological characteristics that exist even within something as small as a grain of sand.
• Matt Kinservik, professor of English, will address the critical issues of information bias, distraction and disinformation that affect both students and society. The seminar will also explore historical examples of disinformation in UD’s Special Collections and take advantage of timely events hosted by UD’s Center for Political Communication and other regional organizations.

The seminars were selected from a record-breaking 19 proposals from 24 UD faculty this year.

DTI is a collaborative educational partnership between the University of Delaware and the following school districts: Colonial, Red Clay Consolidated, New Castle County Vocational-Technical, Christina, Appoquinimink and newly added Brandywine.

Teachers can apply for the seminars by Oct. 4.

Further information is available online.