WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney has appointed former State Teacher of the Year Wendy Turner and high school student Elise Sampson to serve on the State Board of Education. Turner was Delaware’s 2017 State Teacher of the Year and Sampson is a current Smyrna High School student.

Each will be only the second person to serve in their respective roles since the General Assembly passed House Bill 455 in 2018. The legislation allowed the Governor to annually appoint to the board an 11^th or 12^th grade student and former State Teacher of the Year who also is a current educator to serve as non-voting members.

“Students and educators always deserve a seat at the table when we’re making decisions about Delaware schools,” said Governor Carney. “I appreciate the willingness of Wendy and Elise to serve in these important roles. I look forward to the great work they will do on behalf of all Delawareans.”

Turner is a second-grade teacher at Brandywine School District’s Mount Pleasant Elementary School. She earned her undergraduate degree in accounting from Boston College and started her career in the business world. She returned to school at Wilmington University to earn her Master of Education and become a teacher. She earned the 2016 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for her science instruction. In 2019, she was named a National Education Association Global Learning Fellow to South Africa. That same year she also was honored by the Governor’s Office as a Compassionate Champion for her work supporting social emotional learning.

Sampson founded the Black Student Union at Smyrna High School, where she has served as class president, student ambassador and a Student Government Association member. She was selected for the Governor’s School of Excellence for 2020. She also is active in musical groups and nonprofit organizations that give her opportunities to volunteer in her community.

“We are very excited to welcome Wendy and Elise as our new board members.  We learned firsthand the value of a student and current teacher in our classrooms sitting at the table with us last year. Their unique perspective is even more valuable as we face unprecedented challenges in making sure we meet the needs of all students in the current environment.” State Board of Education President Whitney Sweeney said.

The board’s regular monthly meetings are open to the public, typically scheduled for the third Thursday evening of the month. Currently meeting virtually due to COVID-19, when in-person meetings resume, they will rotate locations to be held in all three counties.

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Fioravanti’s nomination must be approved by the Delaware Senate

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday announced his intention to nominate Delaware attorney Paul Fioravanti, Jr. as Vice Chancellor of the Court of Chancery.

The Delaware Senate is expected to consider the Governor’s nomination of Fioravanti this month.

“I am pleased to nominate Paul, whose litigation experience and judgment would serve our state well on the Court of Chancery – our country’s premier venue for corporate litigation,” said Governor Carney. “I look forward to the Senate considering his nomination.”

Since February 1999, Fioravanti has practiced with the Delaware law firm Prickett, Jones & Elliott, P.A. As a partner of the firm, he focuses on corporate and commercial litigation in a variety of business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duty obligations, corporate governance, and LLC litigation. Previously, Fioravanti worked in broadcasting and held positions as a reporter and editor for KYW Newsradio and as a Washington, D.C. correspondent.

Born in Wilmington and a graduate of Salesianum High School, Fioravanti earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Delaware. Fioravanti earned his law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law.

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Click here for a photo of Paul Fioravanti, Jr.

Nomination must be approved by the Delaware Senate

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced his intention to nominate Anthony Albence as Delaware’s next Election Commissioner.

The position, which oversees Delaware’s elections operations, carries a four-year term. The Delaware Senate is expected to consider the Governor’s nomination this month. Albence would replace Elaine Manlove, who has served in the position since 2007.

“For more than a decade, Anthony has directed our elections operations in New Castle County, and I’m confident that he has the skills and experience necessary to serve as Delaware’s next Election Commissioner,” said Governor Carney. “This is an important position that helps safeguard our elections, and make sure that all Delawareans have access to the voting booth. I want to thank Elaine Manlove for her service to our state, and I look forward to the Senate considering this nomination.”

Since 2007, Albence has served as County Director at the Delaware Department of Elections, overseeing staff and operations in New Castle County. In that position, he coordinated with the Election Commissioner on policy initiatives, and led community outreach programs for the department. Previously, Albence served as Director of Public Allies Delaware, and as a training specialist at Catholic Youth Ministry in Wilmington.

As Election Commissioner, Albence would direct the operations of the Department of Elections, investigate potential violations of campaign finance laws, and collect and report on election results.

Albence graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of America in Washington, and earned his master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.

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Adams’ nomination must be approved by the Delaware Senate

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday announced his intention to nominate Delaware attorney Meghan Adams as a Superior Court Judge in New Castle County.

The Delaware Senate is expected to consider the Governor’s nomination of Adams this month.

“I am pleased to nominate Meghan, whose experience, judgment and temperament would serve our state well on the Superior Court,” said Governor Carney. “I look forward to the Senate considering her nomination.”

Since July 2014, Adams has practiced at the Delaware law firm Morris James LLP, where her focus is on corporate and commercial litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Delaware Superior Court, the Delaware Supreme Court, and the U.S. District of Delaware. Previously, Adams was associated with Proctor Heyman, and Chimicles & Tikellis.

A graduate of Dover High School, Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Adams earned her law degree from the Delaware Law School at Widener University.

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Arrington’s nomination must be approved by the Delaware Senate

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday announced his intention to nominate Delaware attorney Michael W. Arrington to serve as a Family Court Judge. Members of the Delaware Senate must vote to confirm Governor Carney’s nomination.

Arrington would replace retiring Judge Barbara Crowell.

“I am pleased to nominate Michael Arrington to serve on the Family Court bench,” said Governor Carney. “Michael has earned the respect of Delaware’s legal community up and down our state, worked in Family Court, and has specific experience in family law that will serve our state well. I look forward to the Senate considering his nomination.”

Arrington is Managing Partner of the Delaware law firm Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze. He has a litigation and appellate practice, with a focus on family law. From 1992-2000, he served as Director of Special Court Services for the Family Court.

Arrington holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College, and a graduate degree from Villanova University. He earned his law degree from the Widener University School of Law.

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