On Friday, reporting on Asbury Public School District’s recent State Audit, I noted, “Word on the ground is that friends of the superintendent are quickly promoted to administrative levels, a trend that began with [current Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet, former Asbury Park superintendent] and continues under [current Asbury Park superintendent Sasha] Gray.”

Some habits die hard.

Sources report that many new hires at the Department of Education are Repollet’s fraternity brothers from the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Twelve members of an umbrella group of related fraternities that call themselves “The Divine 9” also joined Repollet when, as Asbury Park superintendent, he organized a trip to Ghana using federal funds under the pretense of it enriching low-income students. (Learn more here, including that the trip was determined to be an illegitimate use of federal funds bacause the vast majority of attendees were friends of Repollet.)

From the Divine 9 website:

Members of the Divine 9 joined the Asbury Park School District on their journey to Ghana Africa. The Asbury Park School District’s 21st Century Community Learning Center thought Leaders Academy ventured on an educational and cultural journey to Ghana as part of the Global Ambassador’s Program. Designed to develop educational and technology awareness, the program put students’ knowledge to work by giving them an opportunity to interact with their African international peers.

The Asbury Park School District invited teachers, administrators and community members join AP students during their Spring Break – April 7, 2017 through April 15, 2017 – we journeyed to the nation of Ghana on West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea and enjoyed its diverse wildlife, native shrines and the awesome hospitality of the Ghanaian people. The trip included roundtrip tickets from JFK to Accra, Ghana, lodging and stops at several historical sites along the way: the Cape Coast Slave Dungeon, Kakum National Park, Accra Art Gallery, Ghana American Embassy, morning visit with children of (name) Ghana School, The resident of W.E.B. DuBois, Jamestown Lighthouse Village, Kwan Nkrumah Circle and many other sites and restaurant.

The highlight of the trip was the Enstoolment Ceremony of Sigma Brother Dr. Lamont Repollet. Kudos to the outstanding job he has done to promote the Asbury School District throughout the state of New Jersey, nationally and now internationally. Congratulations Brother Nana Dr. Lamont Repollet on your accomplishments and your new role as Chief of Education for the village of Abram Agona Ghana.

Enjoy the pictures of our new DOE staffers dressed in their fraternity regalia!