Exceptional Delaware

Education News in The First State

  • Colonial Superintendent, Board President, & VP Intimidated African-American Board Member To Resign

    Ja’Lisa White, a former Colonial Board of Education member, claims she was intimidated to resign from the board in July. White was elected to the board in 2023 when no one else ran against her. She lived in Nominating District C for Colonial. A few months after she won her seat, she informed Colonial Superintendent… Read more

  • Sign The Petition To Remove Naveed Baqir From The Christina Board of Education

    A Delaware citizen has created a petition to (hopefully) get rid of Dr. Naveed Baqir as a member of the Christina Board of Education. Petition · Remove Naveed Baqir from the Christina Board of Education – NOW – United States · Change.org For more reasons than I can count, Baqir should NOT be on the… Read more

  • The Chaos Magnets Of Delaware Public Education Part 1: First State Educate

    For decades, organizations claiming they will “fix” education in some fashions have been rampant in Delaware. Most people involved in Delaware education know some of the names. These are organizations that really, really believe in school choice when you get to the bottom of their motives. They want certain funding formulas that will benefit charter… Read more

  • A Pile Of Dead Charter Schools

    Yesterday, Highlands Bunker released their latest podcast titled “A Pile Of Dead Charter Schools”. In this episode, they interviewed Doug Manley, a member of the Christina Board of Education. Manley touched on everything: the Dan Shelton saga, board dynamics, Naveed Baqir and his various shell companies and activities, charter schools, and school funding. It is… Read more

  • “We Are The Stars Of The Show, Not You” The Exceptional Delaware Hero Of The Month- Ari

    At the Christina board meeting last Wednesday night, a seven-year-old student named Ari stole the show when she and her Mom gave a public comment addressing the turmoil on the Christina Board of Education. It was the highlight of the evening even though the Board President didn’t seem to fully grasp what she was saying… Read more

  • Baumbach Versus Patton

    At the latest Christina Board of Education meeting, State Rep. Paul Baumbach gave a public comment. It was just the latest in a series of public comments the retiring legislator has given at the board meetings this year. Board President Donald Patton left the stage before the first public comment (which was mine) and didn’t… Read more

  • Christina Leads The Way On Professional Development About Black History

    The Christina School District had a presentation last night about the Professional Development they implemented about Black History, as codified by the recent House Bill #198 approved by the 152nd General Assembly. Today, they came out with a press release on it. This blog highly supports this and kudos to Christina for getting this done!… Read more

  • Exceptional Delaware Public Apology To Deb Judy

    Exceptional Delaware received false information from several sources who have been extremely credible in the past regarding Smyrna Assistant Superintendent Deb Judy. She has not been terminated by their board as previously reported. She is leaving the district of her own volition and it has not been mandated in any way by the board or… Read more

  • Baqir Refuses To Say When He Will Be Back While Patton Loses Objectivity Because Baqir Is “His Friend”

    In yet another tumultuous Christina Board of Education meeting tonight, Donald Patton showed his true colors when it comes to Dr. Naveed Baqir. He repeatedly referred to Baqir as “his friend” and said there is no evidence of any wrongdoing on Baqir’s part. The board did actually get to discuss Baqir’s residency because Baqir and… Read more

  • Matt Meyer’s Fishing Trip For Secretary Of Education & Other Post Primary Blues

    The day after primaries have to be murder for candidates who lost. And boy oh boy, were there a lot of them yesterday! It was a great and bad day for women in politics. I was very happy Eric Morrison beat Margie Lopez-Waite in the 27th District. Delaware does NOT need someone that charter school… Read more

  • Bob A’s $100K Contract & Job Description For Christina School District

    At the Christina Board of Education meeting tonight one of the action items is to vote on Robert Andrzejewski’s contract and job description. The board posted both on their website. Andrzejewski, commonly known as “Bob A” has to be VERY careful with his salary. As a former state employee, Bob A gets a pension every… Read more

  • Earl Jacques Returns To Delaware Politics (Sort Of)

    Until yesterday, I had not heard the name Earl Jacques in a long time. Earl was a State Representative in the 27th District for years until he was voted out in the Primary of 2020. Flash forward four years later, to the Delaware Primary of 2024. State Rep. Eric Morrison appeared at the Hodgson Vo-Tech… Read more

  • Delaware Dept. Of Education Wants To “Loan” Educators

    Yesterday, the Delaware Department of Education put out a press release that they want 10 educators on “loan” for the 2024-2025 school year: Delaware school staff: DDOE is seeking 10 educators on loan to help cultivate equitable and just school practices that facilitate elevating and empowering student voice, diversifying the educator workforce, building cultural competence,… Read more

  • Emergency Board Meeting In Smyrna Tonight

    Folks in the Smyrna School District are wondering what the emergency board meeting the Smyrna Board of Education has tonight will be about. The meeting was posted yesterday. Under Delaware law, a public meeting can be posted less than seven days if something urgent comes up. The board will be meeting in Executive Session after… Read more

  • Delaware Primary Primer

    September 10th, 2024 will be remembered in the First State. Today, voters decide who will, presumably, be their next Governor. And Lieutenant Governor. And Insurance Commissioner. And many State Representatives and State Senators. And members of Congress. The biggest by far is Governor. Will Bethany Hall-Long be able to reach the masses to turn a… Read more

  • Opposition At Odyssey Charter As Middle School Principal Quits & Pappas Violates IDEA

    A few days before Labor Day, the Odyssey Charter Middle School Principal quit without notice after Executive Director Elias Pappas gave her an ultimatum she refused to adhere to. Adriana Soto was given a direct order to move many students to advanced classes. The problem with this was that these students were not honors material… Read more

  • Shellshock: The Naveed Baqir Files, Part 14

    In 2020, Dr. Naveed Baqir transformed the grassroots Friends of Christina (FOC) organization into a non-profit organization. Previously, the group was led by a Newark, Delaware citizen named Mary Schorse. As a new non-profit they were obligated to file an IRS 990 tax form. For some odd reason, they were listed as a religious organization… Read more

  • Opt Out Of Smarter Balanced For Your Kids Delaware Parents!

    This is a reminder for all Delaware students, parents, and employees in Delaware public education. It is NOT illegal to opt your child out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment. I’ve heard of many schools telling parents the following: It is illegal to opt their child out If the child is opted out they won’t go… Read more

  • Delaware Department of Elections Proves Their Own Corruption

    Yesterday, Branden Fletcher Dominguez dropped out of the race for the 3rd district state representative race following an investigation by the Delaware Department of Elections and the Delaware Department of Justice. In a nutshell, he dropped out because he is homeless. But when someone like Dr. Naveed Baqir uses a fake address to run for… Read more

  • Lopez-Waite Once Called Delaware Professional Standards Board Elitist

    When the Delaware Professional Standards Board (PSB) began to draft Regulation 1596 which gives guidelines for Charter School Leaders, the CEO of ASPIRA, Margie Lopez-Waite, seemed to take it as a personal insult. The regulation, aimed at Charter School leaders needing to have educator licenses, was met with fierce opposition by Lopez-Waite. She wrote a… Read more