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Administration and Support

D. Dusty Blakey Ed.D.

Superintendent

Colonial's Leader in the Power of WE vision

D. Dusty Blakey, Ed.D. was named as the Superintendent of the Colonial School District on June 26, 2014. Prior to his appointment as Superintendent, Dr. Blakey served as a Director of Schools for Colonial. His other administrative duties during his 13 year tenure with the district have included Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal at William Penn High School; Principal at Gunning Bedford Middle School; and Director of Personnel. Prior to joining Colonial, Dr. Blakey taught in the New Castle County Vocational Technical School District and was an administrator with the Caesar Rodney School District. Dr. Blakey received his undergraduate degree from Morgan State University; masters degree from the University of Delaware in Educational Leadership, and doctorate in Administration and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.

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Jeffrey Menzer Ed.D.

Assistant Superintendent

A devoted Leader who oversees day to day operations of various departments in Colonial.

Dr. Menzer began his career at William Penn High School in 1991 as an "at-risk" teacher in a federally funded drop out prevention program. Following that experience, he joined the Social Studies Department, teaching Civics and US History. In 1994, he began a new role as Student Advisor. Spending 5 years in this role, he taught life skills classes to potential dropouts, coordinated after-school and summer programs, and led teacher focus groups around a variety of issues. In 1999, he became an assistant principal at George Read Middle School, returning to WPHS in 2001 as an assistant principal. In January 2004, he continued his leadership journey as the principal at Gunning Bedford Middle School, eventually returning to William Penn as Principal in June of 2005. In July 2014, after a 9-year principalship at William Penn, he became a Director of Schools in the Colonial School District. and in July 2019 he began in a new role as an Assistant Superintendent. Jeff and his wife Shelly have been married for 24 years and enjoy spending time with their four children: Jake, Alec, Emma, and Kate.

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Peter Leida, Ed.D.

Assistant Superintendent

A life long leader in Colonial who oversees day to day operations of various schools and more in Colonial.

Pete Leida graduated from the University of Delaware and, immediately, launched into his teaching career in Colonial. He later earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership from Wilmington University and began his administrative career working as an elementary assistant and principal in 3 different schools over 11 years. Dr. Leida began in the role of Director of Elementary Schools in Summer 2012, which was focused on leadership development, support, and evaluation of school leaders. Additionally, he held a variety of responsibilities and chaired or co-chaired several district committees and workgroups. He is responsible for the successful implementation of the Empowering Educators to Excel (E3) grant and the various projects associated with the grant. In July 2018, Dr. Leida was promoted to Assistant Superintendent. While still coordinating the E3 grant, he is also responsible for supporting the work of the Curriculum and Instruction, Schools, and Technology Divisions.

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Marybeth Russell

Specialist

Lauren Wilson

Public Information Officer

Gabe Phillips

Strategic Marketing Officer

Ahtiya Johnson

Specialist/Choice

Superintendent’s Office

Superintendent
Dolan (Dusty) Blakey, Ed.D.
(302) 323-2710

Assistant Superintendent
Jeffrey Menzer, Ed.D.
(302) 323-2716

Assistant Superintendent
Peter Leida, Ed.D.
(302) 323-2716

Administrative Office Specialist
Marybeth Russell
(302) 323-2710

Public Information Officer
Lauren Wilson
(302) 323-2753

Strategic Marketing Officer
Gabriel Phillips
(302) 323-2700

Choice
Ahtiya Johnson
(302) 323-2873

Nutrition Services
Information on school meals

Supervisor
Paula Angelucci
(302) 323-2743

Nutrition Specialist
Amanda Coen, RD, SNS
(302) 323-2743

Specialist
Scott Schuster
(302) 323-2743

Operations Manager
Tammy Roop
(302) 323-2743

Operations Coordinator
Renee Elliott
(302) 323-2743

Secretary
Leanne Thomas
(302) 323-2743

Division of Schools
Information on all the schools

Director – Secondary Schools
James Comegys
(302) 323-2716

Director – Elementary Schools
Nikki Jones
(302) 323-2716

Secretary
Ma ureen Leary
(302) 323-2716

Division of Human Resources
Information on job applications, availability

Director
Elizabeth Fleetwood
(302) 323-2712

Administrative Secretary
Jeanne Campbell
(302) 323-2712

Secretaries
Rebecca Stilwell
Mary Jo Lemon
(302) 323-2712

Leave Coordinator
Debbie Ide
(302) 323-2715

Payroll & Benefits
Deldra Gregory-Colvin
(302) 323-2732

PHRST
Shelley Vincent
(302) 323-2712

Receptionist
Barbara Brokaw
(302) 323-2700

Janet Whitaker
(302) 323-2700

Division of Business
Information on finance, taxes, purchasing and technology

Chief Financial Officer
Emily Falcon
(302) 323-2729

Specialist
Erin Guerke
(302) 323-2818

Administrative Secretary
Lisa Porter
(302) 323-2729

FSF/Accounts Payable
Cindy Miller
Leslie Papanicolas
Krystin Bowen
Jazmine Lockley
(302) 323-2738

PHRST/Payroll
Valerie Shinn
(302) 323-2734

Douglas Smythe
(302) 323-2876

Division of Curriculum and Instruction

Information on curriculum, assessment and professional development

Director
Sherrie Clark
(302) 323-2727

Supervisor – Math
Crystal Lancour, Ed.D.
(302) 323-2728

Supervisor –Social Studies, Science, Visual Arts, Health/Physical Education, Title 1, Advanced Placement/Gifted and Talented
Nicholas Baker, Ed.D.
(302) 323-2728

Supervisor – Instructional Technology
Tom Gavin

Specialist – English/Language Arts
Katie Gutowski

Secretaries
Debbie Wise
(302) 323-2726

Elizabeth “Laura” Becker
(302) 323-2727

Patricia Shelton
(302) 323-2728

Division of Operations
Information on building operations, nutrition services and transportation

Supervisor
Ted Lambert
(302) 323-2719

Operations Specialist
Dave Evans Jr.
(302) 323-2746

Maintenance Specialist
James Evans
(302) 323-2719

Secretaries
Lisa Amoroso
(302) 323-2743

Patsy Schiller
(302) 323-2719

Transportation