HET Educators Foundation Microcredential

The Hospitality, Events, & Tourism (HET) industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, requiring adaptable, innovative, and highly skilled professionals. Preparing students for success in this field demands educators who combine strong industry knowledge with effective, equity-driven teaching practices. To support this work, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE), in collaboration with the Delaware Restaurant Foundation (DRF) and the Delaware Restaurant Association (DRA), has launched professional learning cohorts for HET teachers. Educators participate in professional development opportunities, immersive experiences, asynchronous coursework, and Professional Learning Communities (PLC) focused on current industry trends and best practices in instruction. Teachers will create portfolio artifacts (lesson plans, rubrics, project frameworks, and partnership strategies) that directly connect learning to classroom practice. Participants earn stackable microcredentials aligned to each PLC theme. Each completed microcredential equates to 45 clock hours or 3 credit hours toward Specific Career Area requirements and will be awarded through the Delaware Restaurant Foundation. Over the course of the microcredentials, you will build to a capstone recognition as an HET Educator Leader, showcasing both mastery of industry content and commitment to advancing Career & Technical Education in Delaware. This initiative equips educators to: • Integrate industry-relevant practices into daily instruction, • Expand equitable and engaging student opportunities, and • Strengthen a statewide community of HET teacher leader.