Newly elected Upper Darby school board member vacates position

The Upper Darby School District School Board on Dec. 2 elected a new president and vice president, and it swore in newly elected and reelected members. But one newly elected member was absent — and board leadership later revealed that he does not intend to participate on the school board going forward.

The individual in question is Dr. Lugene Kennebrew, Jr., who has been an Upper Darby resident since 2014 and is described by Upper Darby Democrats as an “educational policy innovator with over a decade of classroom experience.” Kennebrew’s LinkedIn profile describes him as an “educator, creative technologist, and AI strategist” who currently serves as “Black Joy Galaxy Creator & Executive Producer” at Vivify Education.

Desiree’ Murphy Morrissey, who was chosen as the school board’s new president, said UDSD administration on the day of the meeting received word from Kennebrew that “he intended to resign from the school board, or as an alternative, withdraw his acceptance of the position.” Morrissey said the board acknowledges that decision by Kennebrew and declares his seat vacant. The board then passed a motion to direct the administration to take steps to fill the vacant seat.

Kennebrew did not respond to a request for comment about why he chose not to join the school board.

Had he opted to participate on the board, Kennebrew would have joined another newly elected member, Ryan Bohl, who has 10 years of teaching experience in middle and high schools and is an Aronimink Elementary School parent. Dyamond Gibbs and Mohammad Hossain were reelected, and like Bohl will serve terms that expire on the first Monday of December 2029.

The other board members — including Murphy Morrissey, Donald Fields, Damien Warsavage and newly chosen Vice President Brittney Williams — are serving terms that expire on the first Monday in December 2027. The superintendent, Dr. Daniel McGarry, serves as a 10th member of the board as a non-voting member.