Alison Travers, assistant director of the Delaware Academy for School Leadership in CEHD’s School Success Center, welcomes nearly 400 educators to the Women Leading Delaware Education Conference.

Women Leading Delaware Education

Article by Jessica Henderson Photos by Maria Errico April 07, 2025

UD hosts professional learning conference for nearly 400 Delaware educators on Newark campus

The University of Delaware College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)’s School Success Center (SSC) hosted the seventh annual Women Leading Delaware Education Conference on UD’s Newark campus. On March 24, the SSC welcomed nearly 400 Delaware educators to Clayton Hall Conference Center for an engaging and inspiring day of professional learning.

The Women Leading Delaware Education Conference is a networking and professional learning event for teachers and administrators in elementary, secondary and higher education settings. The event addresses issues specific to women and education leadership and provides a powerful opportunity for current and aspiring leaders to convene for a day of connection, reflection and inspiration. The conference aligns with CEHD’s commitment to strengthening the education workforce, supporting educational leaders throughout their careers and helping Delaware schools address the regional school leader shortages.

“We are encouraged by the strong turnout and engagement of educators from across the state, highlighting a desire to collaborate in addressing both challenges and opportunities for women in education leadership at local and state levels,” said Alison Travers, assistant director of the Delaware Academy for School Leadership in CEHD’s SSC. “At the SSC, we are committed to creating and supporting ongoing opportunities for this important work to continue.”

Author Minette Norman delivers the morning keynote session, inspiring participants to foster a welcoming workplace environment where everyone can thrive.

The theme of this year’s event was "Thrive in 2025," and the keynote speaker, sponsored by the Educator Excellence Workgroup in the Delaware Department of Education, was Minette Norman, the award-winning author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader.

Norman’s address focused on creating a healthy workplace culture where everyone can thrive. Sharing personal experiences and research from neuroscience, Norman talked about how small actions from leaders can have far-reaching, sometimes unintentional consequences. She shared strategies for promoting a culture that encourages people to share their ideas, experiment, make mistakes and ask for help without fear of embarrassment or retribution.

“I loved the energy and engagement of the audience, and I enjoyed not only being the keynote speaker, but also leading an interactive breakout session with a smaller group,” Norman said.

The event also featured remarks from CEHD Interim Dean Rena Hallam, Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten and a panel discussion with women in leadership roles, including Delaware's First Lady Lauren Meyer. National and local leaders also facilitated whole-group and breakout sessions on topics like equipping yourself to thrive, creating the organizational conditions to thrive and empowering students to thrive.

Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten celebrates the contributions of women in Delaware education in her remarks.

The annual Women Leading Delaware Education conference is an event I always look forward to attending,” said Deborah Stevens, vice president of the Delaware State Board of Education. “The convening provided attendees with the opportunity to connect with colleagues, make new friends and hear from outstanding local and national leaders in education. The plenary and break-out sessions were thought-provoking and focused on professional and personal growth. It is so inspiring to spend a day with women supporting women in an effort to advance public education and ‘thrive.’”

CEHD’s Center for Disabilities Studies, Center for Excellence and Equity in Teacher Preparation, Center for Research in Education and Social Policy, Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood, Partnership for Public Education and SSC also shared information and ongoing projects with participants.

CEHD centers and Delaware educational organizations shared information and resources with participants between presentations and break-out sessions.

“CEHD faculty and staff from our academic departments and centers shared opportunities to help K-12 educators access research-based support from our college,” Travers said. “Everyone left with a challenge: to prioritize their own well-being so they can develop the capacity in their school to improve learning outcomes for all Delaware learners.”

Hosted annually in March, the Women Leading Delaware Education also aligns with national Women’s History Month. The conference complemented many other events on UD’s campus, including a Women’s Hall of Fame art exhibition and the signing of Gov. Matt Meyer’s proclamation honoring Delaware women on UD’s campus.

About the School Success Center

Launched in 2022, the SSC partners with teachers and administrators in public, charter and independent schools and offers a systemic approach to improving student and school outcomes. The SSC is unique in partnering with both teachers and administrators on the same improvement strategies to ensure that teachers, schools and districts grow together.

In addition to providing differentiated coaching services for school and district leaders, the SSC offers expert-facilitated professional learning programs in literacy instruction, math instruction and multi-tiered systems of support, focusing on student screening, diagnostic assessment, intervention design, progress monitoring and more.

To partner with the SSC, visit its website.