CAMDEN — Karine Scott, a physical education teacher at W.B. Simpson Elementary School, has been selected as the 2021-22 Caesar Rodney School District Teacher of the Year.

By being chosen as the district winner, Mrs. Scott is eligible for the State Teacher of the Year award that will be announced in the fall by the Delaware Department of Education.

The announcement was made by Superintendent Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald in a surprise visit to Mrs. Scott and her students at Simpson Elementary. CR's overall Teacher of the Year is selected from a group of 12 candidates, one from every school in the district.

“Karine Scott is a reflection of the dedication and spirit that makes W.B. Simpson Elementary such a special place for students,” Dr. Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement. “She is an exceptional example of the quality of educators that the Caesar Rodney School District represents.”

A native French-Canadian, Mrs. Scott has been a physical education teacher at W.B. Simpson since 2015. She also has been an assistant track and field coach for Caesar Rodney High School and has served as a fitness and wellness professor at Delaware State University during her career.

She is currently president of the Society of Health and Physical Educators in Delaware. As the president for SHAPE, she collaborates with the DOE and the Division of Public Health to create initiatives to keep communities healthy across the state.

“Coming from a long line of PE teachers in her family, Mrs. Scott has created her own legacy here at Simpson Elementary. She knows the skills that students need to be successful not only in the Physical Education environment but, ultimately, in the real world,” W.B. Simpson Elementary Principal Jennifer Martin said in a prepared statement. “She focuses on individual student needs and ensures that every student has the tools to succeed in her class, no matter what it takes. By involving our outside community resources, she has built a comprehensive program where health and wellness come first.”

Mrs. Scott has always wanted to be a physical education teacher. She began her journey by playing NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey at Minnesota State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from West Chester University and a Master of Science in sports administration from Delaware State University.

Choosing the district’s Teacher of the Year is a multistep process. First, students, teachers, parents and administrators at each school building make recommendations. Then, building teachers vote for the top five choices. Those nominees develop portfolios that are then reviewed and scored by a committee of parents, teachers and students from each school. From that process, one teacher in each building emerges as that school's candidate.

Each candidate makes a more in-depth portfolio, including educational history and professional development, awards and recognition, philosophy of teaching, community service and letters of support. Administrators, school board members, teachers, parents and students then independently read and score them.

Teams consisting of the district superintendent, principals, teachers and parents then conduct classroom observations and interviews with the finalists. Each team member awards an overall score for each candidate. After a discussion and review of all scores, the district’s winner is selected.