Cory Hafer, a Middletown High School teacher in the Appoquinimink School District, is Delaware’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year and the state’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Passionate about real-world learning, he helps students apply their knowledge beyond the classroom.
One of his proudest moments was guiding an engineering team to design a warehouse and parking lot, presenting their work to district stakeholders with support from Landmark Engineering mentors. Hafer believes students can solve real-world problems—not just theoretical ones.
A University of Michigan graduate with a Master’s from Columbia University’s Teachers College, Hafer has taught in New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan before joining Middletown in 2019. His innovative teaching has earned him statewide recognition, grants, and prestigious awards.