Scholarships

Christopher K. Smith Memorial Future Teacher Scholarship

Duty-free lunch… It’s a part of nearly every collectively-bargained contract affecting DSEA members. However, what is now an important fabric of those contracts was once something elementary teachers were forced to do without. In 1969, though, a social studies teacher organized his colleagues to lobby for that contractual right, marking a pivotal moment in DSEA history: the organization’s first foray into member lobbying.

Christopher K. Smith, the social studies teacher who organized the effort, built a career as both an educator and union leader. In addition to his years teaching in the Georgetown and Colonial School Districts, Smith served two terms as Delaware’s representative on the NEA Board of Directors.

Smith passed away unexpectedly in 1989. The following year, the DSEA Executive Board established the Christopher K. Smith Memorial Future Teacher Scholarship to honor his work as an educator and advocate.

The scholarship offers $1,000 per year, for four years, to a graduate of a Delaware public high school. They must major in education and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. While not a requirement, graduates are encouraged to teach in a Delaware public school.

The selection committee, comprised of DSEA staff and members, considers a variety of factors when making its decision. These factors include academic performance, involvement in high school activities, and career plans. Applicants must also submit two letters of recommendation from their teachers, which focuses on their leadership potential, personal character, and degree of initiative.

Christopher K. Smith Scholarship application

Howard M. Weinberg Scholarship

Howard Weinberg’s life as an advocate began in middle school. Albert, a classmate with Down Syndrome, was being picked on and Weinberg stepped in to help him. That innate trait of helping others continued throughout his entire professional career, whether it was during his time as a teacher, UniServ Director, or executive director.

Weinberg began his career in 1969 as a business teacher in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He immediately gravitated to member advocacy, becoming president of the local association after just three years.

Seven years later, Weinberg joined DSEA as a UniServ Director and eventually as the manager for the UniServ staff. After over a decade in this role, he was tapped in 2001 to replace Ron Pierce as the Executive Director.

DSEA will continue that history of helping people by awarding the Howard Weinberg Scholarship to a graduate of Delaware high schools.

The Howard Weinberg Scholarship was established to honor Weinberg and assist the children of DSEA members in attending college. Recipients receive $1,000 per year for four years to help them pursue a degree of their choice. They must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in order to remain eligible for the scholarship.

The selection committee, comprised of DSEA staff and members, considers a variety of factors when making its decision. These factors include academic performance, involvement in high school activities, and career plans. Applicants must also submit two letters of recommendation from their teachers regarding their leadership potential, personal character, and degree of initiative.

Howard M. Weinberg Scholarship application

DSEA Retired Scholarships

DSEA Retired is offering two separate scholarships this year, each in the amount of $1,250! 

The first is for any graduating high school senior who is going to college to pursue a degree in education. 

The second is for any school employee who is a current DSEA member in good standing and can be used to help further their career in education.

For more information, visit the DSEA Retired page on our website.

Jack Kinnaman Scholarship

The NEA-Retired Jack Kinnaman Scholarship Fund was established in honor of Jack Kinnaman, the then-serving NEA-Retired Vice President. Five $3,500 scholarships are awarded each year to members of the Aspiring Educators program. To be considered for this award, Aspiring Educators must submit an application. 

Jack Kinnaman Scholarship Information