Amanda Howard Named IRSD Teacher of the Year

Amanda Howard, a kindergarten teacher at Long Neck Elementary School, has been named the Indian River School District’s Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. 

The announcement was made at the district’s annual Teacher of the Year ceremony on May 8 at the Seed and Sapling events venue in Frankford. Amanda was chosen as the district’s overall winner from a pool of 15 candidates, one from each school. 

Mrs. Howard has been a kindergarten teacher at Long Neck Elementary School since 2014. Prior to joining the Long Neck staff, she spent a year as a fourth-grade teacher at Shortlidge Academy in the Red Clay Consolidated School District.

Mrs. Howard holds bachelor’s of science degree in early childhood education from the University of Delaware and a master’s of education degree from Wilmington University.

At Long Neck Elementary and the Indian River School District, Mrs. Howard has served as a comprehensive induction program mentor, a kindergarten lead teacher, an instructional leadership team member, an Extended School Year teacher and an after-school tutor for kindergarten students. She has also utilized the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to provide targeted interventions for students struggling academically, behaviorally, emotionally and socially. 

Teacher of the Year winners from each district school are as follows:

Molly Abbott, Phillip C. Showell Elementary School
Ryan Blades, Sussex Central High School     
Savannah Cahall, North Georgetown Elementary School    
Conor Casey, Millsboro Middle School     
Jordan Espada, Southern Delaware School of Arts     
Ryan Goodwin, Georgetown Middle School     
Lori Hansen, IRSD Early Learning Center 
Amanda Howard, Long Neck Elementary School (overall winner)    
John Jaskewich, Indian River High School    
Lindsay Kendrick, East Millsboro Elementary School     
Sara Powell, John M. Clayton Elementary School     
Sarah Pringle, Howard T. Ennis School    
Nicholas Tretina, Selbyville Middle School     
Kristin Turner, Georgetown Elementary School    
Heather Wood, Lord Baltimore Elementary School        

As the district’s Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Howard is now eligible for the state Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced in October.