- Christina School District
- Meet the Board
Meet the Board
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Dr. Keeley Powell
President
Nominating District EDr. Keeley Powell
President
Nominating District ETerm Expires: June 30, 2023Email: Dr. PowellPhone: 302-552-2630 -
Dr. Claire O'Neal
Vice President
Nominating District DDr. Claire O'Neal
Vice President
Nominating District DTerm Expires: June 30, 2024Email: Dr. O'NealPhone: 302-552-2630Dr. Claire O'Neal is a parent of two Christina students who attended West Park Place Elementary, Shue-Medill Middle School, and now attend Newark High School. She is the President of the Newark High School PTSA, was active in the Shue-Medill Middle PTA, and served as the West Park Elementary PTA Vice President for 6 years. O'Neal holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Washington and teaches math and science at the Newark Center for Creative Learning.- Board Representative, DSBA Legislative Committee
- Board Alternate, DSBA Board of Directors
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Dr. Naveed Baqir
Nominating District FDr. Naveed Baqir
Nominating District FTerm Expires: June 30, 2026Email: Dr. BaqirPhone: 302-552-2630Dr. Naveed Baqir, is a systems architect, software engineer, and community activist. He served as a public elementary school teacher during the late 1990s and has taught at the University of Delaware and other universities. Dr. Baqir came from humble beginnings where even basic schooling needs such as a classroom, a chair, and a desk were not available to him until junior high. However, he completed high school with distinction, and after earning graduate degrees in Technology Management in 2004 and Business Administration in 2005 from Eastern Illinois University, he earned his Ph.D. in Information Systems from the University of North Carolina in 2009.
Dr. Baqir is the first immigrant American and Asian American member of the board and is looking forward to fostering community connections that are needed to involve students, teachers, parents and communities in the educational process.
- Board Representative, Friends of Christina School District (FOCSD)
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Monica Moriak
Nominating District BMonica Moriak
Nominating District BTerm Expires: June 30, 2026Email: Ms. MoriakPhone: 302-552-2630Monica Moriak has spent the last 18 years volunteering in the Christina schools and working to support and improve education in the Christina School District. She has been on multiple school-wide and district-wide committees. Most recently the Citizens Budget Oversight Committee and the Referendum Steering Committee.
She is currently a photographer at the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. She has two sons, one a graduate student and the other a junior in college. Monica holds a bachelors of science in Chemistry from James Madison University and a masters of science in Organic Chemistry from The Ohio State University.
- Board Representative, Citizens Budget Oversight Committee
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Donald Patton
Nominating District GDonald Patton
Nominating District GTerm Expires: June 30, 2026Email: Mr. PattonPhone: 302-552-2630Mr. Patton is a retired educator after serving many years in the Christina School District. He began his career in education teaching at John Dickinson and Christiana High schools. In 2000, he was appointed as the assistant principal at George V. Kirk Middle School. Mr. Patton later served as principal of Kirk Middle School and The Bayard School. Before retiring in 2019, his career brought him to the Christina District office to serve as Supervisor of Student Services. He has received numerous certificates and awards for community service, athletics, coaching, and volunteering in his community. Mr. Patton also served as President of Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security Charter School Board and Vice-chair of Las Americas Aspira Academy Board of Directors. Mr. Patton has earned degrees from Delaware State University and Wilmington University and served in the United States Army. -
Frederick Polaski
Nominating District CFrederick Polaski
Nominating District CTerm Expires: June 30, 2023Email Mr. PolaskiPhone: 302-552-2630Polaski has served as an officer and board member of the Penn Del Swimming League, a member and former president of the Nottingham Swim Club, and a member of the Board of Governors of Christine Manor Civic Association. He is a former youth soccer and baseball coach at the Western YMCA and the American Little League, and he has been a high school volleyball official and a swimming official for the Suburban Swim League, YMCA, USA Swimming, and high school and college swim competitions.His children attended school in the Christina School District and graduated from Newark High School.- Board Representative, DSBA Board of Directors
- Board Alternate, DSBA Legislative Committee
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Alethea Smith-Tucker
Nominating District AEmail: Mrs. Smith-TuckerPhone: 302-552-2630Mrs. Smith-Tucker is a wife, mother and passionate education advocate. A native of Decatur, GA, she has lived in Wilmington, DE, for 24 years with her husband, Gerald Tucker, and two young children. Over the last 10 years, Smith-Tucker has worked with organizations such as The Parent Advocacy Council for Education (PACE), Wilmington Early Education Readiness Team, Christina School District - Parents as Teachers, and Mom's House of Wilmington, fighting for a quality education that serves all students. Through these experiences, she has helped to empower parents to use their voice as a tool for change. As the owner of a small business, Help U Produce, LLC, a business consultancy and coaching firm, she uses her years of corporate experience to help organizations improve operations and performance. Smith-Tucker's professional experience spans throughout the corporate industry including MBNA, JPMorgan, Nemours, and Banker's Life.
Smith-Tucker is an alumna of Delaware Technical and Community College where she graduated with a degree in Management of Information Systems. She is currently pursuing a degree in Information Systems Management at Wilmington University.
- Board Representative, Naming of Schools Facilities Committee
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Mia Carew
Student Representative -
Dr. Dan Shelton
Executive Secretary / Superintendent
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"We must aspire to a trajectory of high expectations to which we hold ourselves,
all our employees, all our parents, and all our students."
Christina Board Policy 0000