Seventeen years ago, Shaila Collins stepped into Sussex Technical High School determined to help students see Spanish not just as a subject, but as a bridge to the world. Today, she stands as Sussex Tech’s 2025 Teacher of the Year and one of 20 finalists for the 2026 Delaware Teacher of the Year award.
View this post on Instagram
For Collins, language has always been more than words. Born in Germany as a military child, she grew up surrounded by diverse languages and cultures, an experience that sparked her lifelong passion for communication. “Language is the passport to the world,” she says, a mantra that guides her classroom and her career.
A graduate of the University of Delaware (Spanish Education) and Wilmington University (Master’s in Career and Technical Education) with a certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Trinity College London, Collins brings both academic rigor and lived experience to her teaching. Her travels to 40 countries, including 12 Spanish-speaking nations, enrich her lessons with real-world stories, from walking Havana’s streets to exploring Machu Picchu’s ruins.
“I want my students to see that Spanish is a living, breathing connection to real people and cultures,” she explains. One of her most popular lessons transforms her classroom into a bustling international marketplace, where students use authentic foreign currency to “travel” between countries and practice their Spanish.
Collins says the most rewarding part of her career is seeing her students grow, not just in language skills, but in confidence and cultural understanding. “When former students reach out to share how they’ve used their Spanish in the real world, that’s everything,” she says.
Beyond the classroom, Collins serves as President of Sussex Tech’s Equity Committee, represents the school on the State Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, and coaches cross country and track and field. Her leadership underscores her commitment to making every student feel seen, heard, and supported.
The Delaware Department of Education will announce the 2026 Delaware Teacher of the Year on October 14 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover, with the winner receiving a $5,000 classroom grant and a $3,000 personal award. Regardless of the outcome, Collins’ impact is already clear: she has helped countless students discover the transformative power of language.
