IRSD Spotlight

On the surface, the concept of co-teaching seems rather straight-forward and self-explanatory. But the concept is much more layered and nuanced than you might think. It's also a key component of the Indian River School District's special education services. Melissa Whisted and Patricia Harris explain the practice of co-teaching for IRSD families.

Amanda Howard has been a kindergarten teacher at Long Neck Elementary School for the past 11 years and it has been the fulfillment of a life-long dream. On May 8, she received the Indian River School District's highest teaching honor when she was named IRSD Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. Amanda's enthusiasm for teaching kindergarten is infectious, engaging and funny. And according to many of her colleagues, she possesses all of the qualities of a truly gifted educator.

Students with disabilities have many more educational opportunities than they did several decades ago. One of those opportunities is inclusion, the practice of having special education students learn in the same classroom as their typical, general education peers. Since gaining traction in the 1990s, inclusion is now standard practice in most school systems and the benefits have been far-reaching.

A special announcement from Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens regarding the upcoming current expense referendum on March 20.

AI, or “Artificial Intelligence,” is a topic that has become increasingly prevalent in our society. It's been the subject of numerous media reports, of intense debate in the educational community and even of a hilarious Saturday Night Live sketch. Jeff Kilner, IRSD instructional technology specialist, is an expert on AI at both the local and national levels. Recently, he conducted an AI seminar for district secondary teachers that informative, funny and even a bit disturbing. In this episode, he stops by to discuss AI's benefits and drawbacks and what parents should know about this technology. (Saturday Night Live audio courtesy of NBC Universal Media, LLC 2024.)

It's been said that all behavior happens for a reason; that it's a form of communication. Managing a child's behavior from PreK through their teenage years is never an easy task, as almost every parent can attest. Each age group presents its own unique set of challenges. In this episode, IRSD Director of Special Education Melissa Whisted and Supervisor of Special Education Patti Harris discuss strategies that parents can use to regulate behavior in the years where children's brains are still developing.

In this episode, we speak with three IRSD staff members – one whose father was a champion professional boxer, one who taught a reality TV star and another who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and parachuted into some hazardous areas during the Iraq War.

Many of us have probably heard the acronym “IEP,” but do we really know what it means and what it's all about? Director of Special Education Melissa Whisted and Supervisor of Special Education Patti Harris are here to explain this essential tool for students receiving special education services in the Indian River School District.

October 5 will be a special day in the Indian River School District, as we host our first-ever We Are IRSD Community Festival on the campuses of the Howard T. Ennis School and Sussex Central High School. Nika Reid, IRSD Supervisor of Support Services, gives us all the details about this exciting event. “Stay” courtesy of Hotel Apache and California Pop is Not Dead, 2017.

They've come from far and wide to join the Indian River School District team and bring with them a wealth of skills and talent. In this Back to School episode for 2024-2025, we meet four new IRSD administrators – Dr. Melissa Whisted, Patricia Harris, Carolyn Fries and Dr. Andrew Davis. All have come from outside the district, with one relocating nearly 3,000 across the country to join the IRSD team. “Stay” courtesy of Hotel Apache and California Pop is Not Dead, 2017.

On May 9, Deborah Treherne of the Howard T. Ennis School was named IRSD Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025. In this episode, we sit down with Deborah to discuss her interesting career path and what it's like to work with special needs students on a daily basis.

In November, Indian River High School senior Brynn Crandell captured her third consecutive state cross country championship and solidified her place among the most-decorated athletes in school history. Meanwhile, Sussex Central High School music teacher Phoebe Marvel marched in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City as a member of the Band Director's Marching Band. In this episode, we speak with both Brynn and Phoebe about their recent experiences. (“Friday Night Lights Theme” courtesy of Snuffy Walden and Arrival Records/Scion Music Group, 2010. “Everyday Glory” courtesy of Rush and Atlantic Records/Anthem Entertainment, 1993.)

After serving four years as an assistant principal at Indian River High School, Dr. David Carter has moved into a new position as the principal of Georgetown Middle School. Throughout his time in the Indian River School District, he's forged a strong bond with students and has never hesitated to sing their praises on his school's social media pages. In this episode, Dr. Carter sits down with us to discuss his new position and his career in education and beyond.

There were some new faces around the Indian River School District office when the 2023-2024 school year began this past summer. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Alexis MacLeish, the district's new Talent Acquisition and Certification Specialist, and Mr. Matt Schifano, the new Adult and Community Education Coordinator. Both are former teachers who are taking on new challenges in their professional careers.

Bennett Murray wants anyone who has graduated from Indian River High School during the past 55 years to know that they are a part of a larger family. That is why he was one of the founding members of the Indian River High School Alumni Association more than a decade ago. In this episode, Mr. Murray talks about the association's numerous scholarship awards and its involvement with the IRHS Hall of Fame. For more information about the IRHS Alumni Association, visit irhs.irsd.net and click on the “For Alumni” link under the Resources tab.

The opening of the 2023-2024 school year is only days away and we provide families with some important information, including an overview of the district's new English Language Arts curriculum and updates on school construction projects.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on May 22, 2023.

To watch Kasey Revel teach is to watch someone who is in her element; who truly loves what she does. Her enthusiasm for the job is not only evident, but infectious. In this episode we speak with Kasey, who was recently named IRSD Teacher of the Year for 2023-2024.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on April 24, 2023.

Sussex Central High School recently hosted its annual International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Exhibition. We speak with a student artist and two teachers who helped make the show a reality.

Board of Education meeting - March 27, 2023 by

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on February 27, 2023.

In honor of National School Counseling Week (February 6-10), we speak with two of IRSD's best – Leslee Hazzard and Stephanie Wilkinson.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on January 23, 2023

Located in the middle of the county seat a few blocks from The Circle, the Georgetown Public Library is a community gem. Library Director Rachel Culver tells us why.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on December 19, 2022.

Phillip C. Showell Elementary School music teacher Debby Dudley has 42 years of service in the Indian River School District, by far the most of any district teacher. Her remarkable career began in the late-1970s and has included stints at four IRSD schools. She consistently earns high praise from administrators, colleagues, parents and students. Debby joins us in this episode to talk about a distinguished career in education that has spanned more than four decades.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on November 28, 2022.

An audio recording of the Board of Education workshop meeting on November 16, 2022.

Board of Education meeting - October 24, 2022 by

An audio recording of the Board of Education special meeting on October 19, 2022.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on September 26, 2022.

Lori Smyth's roots in the Indian River School District run deep. She is an Indian River High School graduate, a district parent and a local business owner. Her husband is also an Indian River graduate and her father was an IRSD employee for 32 years. Lori also has an incredible story of escaping Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001. She shares that story in this episode. (“Your Hand in Mine” courtesy of Explosions in the Sky and Temporary Residence, 2003.)

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on August 22, 2022.

With the start of the 2022-2023 school year only two weeks away, we speak with Superintendent Dr. Jay Owens about what's happening around the district and what families can expect when schools open their doors in September. We also meet with two new members of the IRSD administrative team – Monica McCurry, principal of East Millsboro Elementary School, and Dr. Richard Evans, principal of Southern Delaware School of the Arts. (“Sleepwalker” courtesy of The Killers and Island Records, 2021. “Time Stand Still” courtesy of Rush and Mercury/Polygram Records, 1987.)

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on July 25, 2022. (Beginning of public session missing due to technical problems.)

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on June 27, 2022.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on May 23, 2022.

In this episode, we speak with Jennah Truitt, IRSD Teacher of the Year for 2022-2023.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education special meeting on April 27, 2022.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on April 25, 2022.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on March 28, 2022.

In this episode, Superintendent Jay Owens joins us to answer questions submitted by “residents” of the Indian River School District.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on February 28, 2022.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education special meeting on February 11, 2022.

In this episode, we take a look at the Girls on the Run program, which has become extremely popular at elementary and middle schools throughout the Indian River School District.

In this episode, we speak with Sussex Central High School teacher Phoebe Walls about her experience at the Tournament of Roses Parade and with Greg Hockman about the upcoming Career & Trade Fair at Indian River High School.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on January 24, 2022.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on December 20, 2021.

In this episode, we celebrate Southern Delaware School of the Arts and its recent National Blue Ribbon School Award by speaking with Principal Travis Bower and teachers Mary Litchfield and Mary Caligiure.

An audio recording of the Indian River Board of Education regular monthly meeting on November 29, 2021.