Patton named Cape Teacher of the Year
Cape Henlopen School District Teacher of the Year Krissy Patton originally wanted to be a psychologist.
“I grew up in a family that struggled with mental health issues, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and drug addiction,” she said. “I chose to study psychology to understand the mind and learn how to help others live a better life.”
While studying psychology at University of Maryland Baltimore County, the first-generation college student accepted an internship assisting a literacy intervention research study in Baltimore City Public Schools that changed her career trajectory.
“I gained hands-on experience teaching and collaborating with a team to improve children's reading achievement,” she said. “I was so inspired and felt the impact of the work directly. It motivated me to earn a master's degree in education and enter the teaching profession.”
The Baltimore native first took a position with Laurel School District and then H.O. Brittingham Elementary before transitioning to Milton Elementary in 2013. Primarily a fifth-grade language arts and social studies teacher, Patton jumped on the opportunity to become a reading interventionist when a position opened.
“I wanted to work across schools in different grade levels,” she said.
As Milton Elementary’s literacy teacher, Patton designs individualized literacy instruction for students needing extra support, including exceptional and multilingual learners, and she co-plans and co-teaches lessons with teachers.
“I love the role because I’m always learning something new,” she said.
The lifelong learner has continued her own education by completing her master’s in elementary education from Wilmington University and her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Delaware, with a dissertation focused on improving equity-focused professional learning.
She recently completed Lead 4 Delaware’s Equity Practitioner Program Fellowship and formed the first Equity Action Team at Milton Elementary, comprising members from every department and grade-level team. She’s now concentrating on learning the history and culture of Sussex County’s Latino and indigenous communities.
“We have a high-quality curriculum, and it must work for the community and who’s in the classroom,” she said. “One-quarter of the kids at Milton Elementary are Hispanic. Being responsive to who is in the classroom and their needs takes lifelong learning.”
Patton also leads peers on the School Improvement Team and Justice League, and since 2012, Patton has inspired young girls to develop confidence, build relationships and healthy habits as a Girls on the Run coach.
She and her husband, SoDel Concepts’ Matt Patton, live in Rehoboth and love traveling, hiking and cooking. Her mother and stepfather live nearby in Lewes and were able to attend the May 14 ceremony where she received Teacher of the Year honor.
In addition to Patton, teachers earning building honors are Chad Heers, Beacon Middle; Anthony Natoli, Cape High; Carlos Pesquera, H.O. Brittingham Elementary; Nicole Anderson, Lewes Elementary; Connie Bean, Love Creek Elementary; Kathleen Fisher, Mariner Middle; Mary Jones, Rehoboth Elementary and Jack Stang, Sussex Consortium.
Patton is now under consideration for the 2025 Delaware Teacher of the Year, which will be announced by the Delaware Department of Education in the fall.
