Cape honors Coffman for educational support
Milton Elementary School’s Zachary Coffman was named Cape Henlopen School District’s 2024-25 Educational Support Professional of the Year.
Coffman, a Millsboro native and Sussex Tech graduate, has worked in the Cape district for 16 years and at Milton Elementary for five. He currently works as the school’s computer lab manager, teaching students a wide array of technology-based lessons such as keyboarding, audiovisual technology, learning management systems, video creation, stop animation, and coding and robotics.
“I think my class rides the line of us having fun but [having] a lot of structure,” Coffman said. “These students show up every day, eager to come to class and to delve into whatever we’re doing. They love being here.”
In the beginning of the year, a big part of his class involves familiarizing students with the school’s learning management systems, he said. He also teaches them how to use coding apps like ScratchJr and Scratch MIT.
Throughout the year, he teaches unplugged coding, which involves students essentially coding him as a robot around the room using four very basic coding directions: move forward, move backward, move left and move right. The students then progress to working in teams to code each other.
He also uses programmable robots called Bee-Bots and Sphero robots. The district recently bought him larger and more advanced versions of the Sphero robots, called Sphero BOLT+s, which he’s using to spearhead a new school-wide – and potentially district-wide – curriculum.
Students in kindergarten through 12th grade will be able to use the Sphero BOLT+s, which can be coded and programmed through an app on the school-provided iPads, he said.
The nature of Coffman’s class curriculum requires focus. The hardest part of the job, he said, is that he often has to back up and go forward again since students struggle to maintain their attention through all the steps of the lessons.
There is also an increasingly present language barrier, so he makes his lessons as visual as possible and color-codes them, also incorporating Spanish when he can, he said.
But for Coffman, seeing students use what they’ve learned outside the classroom is what makes it all worth it.
“The highlight is when they actually learn the skill that I’m trying to teach them, and they’re able to turn around and create with it,” he said. “Like they’re still using it months later, or they’re still creating stop-motion videos months after we’ve done it [in class], and they come in and show me, ‘Hey, look what I made.’ I’m like, ‘That’s fantastic.’”
While it feels wonderful to be recognized for what he does, he said he loves his work and would do it regardless of recognition. And he feels rewarded by his job every day.
“Mr. Coffman truly embodies the values and significance of an educational support professional,” said Milton Elementary Principal Clara Conn. “His passion, leadership and commitment to the school community make him truly deserving of this honor.”
