I was very confused when I saw the latest Mark Murphy update. Apparently, he is selling Griptape. When I did a Google search on Griptape, it shows many different kinds of images for the adhesive put on skateboards for a sturdier ride.
What in the world? Does he have his own skateboard? Nope. Apparently, the ex Secretary of Education from Delaware is still with America Achieves, but he is now leading an initiative called “Griptape”. I did some deep dives into more information on this youth empowerment magic, but I couldn’t find anything. I guess if students put some extra grip on their studies, they will have a sturdier ride to college and career readiness? Will Griptape be something like that Mark? Please, tell us. We are dying to know more about Griptape!
But I did find out Mark Murphy visited one of my old stomping grounds a few months ago, which just so happens to be one of the skateboarding empires of the world, San Diego. He went out in March to a Deeper Learning convention. The San Diego Convention Center is awesome by the way. If you go up the road, to the Gaslamp Quarter, there is an awesome bar called Dick’s Last Resort. If someone working there isn’t rude to you, they aren’t doing their job. Seriously! But this convention wasn’t held at the San Diego Convention Center. It was at High Tech High Graduate School Of Education (really, I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried).
As well, even though he is no longer a chief, that doesn’t stop him from being listed as a member of Chiefs For Change, one of those offshoots of Jeb Bush’s Excellence In Education outfit. But he better watch out, cause nipping to become a Chief for Change is one of his former, now ex Delaware DOE employees, who is listed as a Chief In Residence. And even though that person is no longer in Delaware, his rot still lingers…
A few weeks ago, Murphy and many of the other Chiefs at the Jeb cabal, like Hanna Skandera (New Mexico Secretary of Education) and John White (Louisiana’s Superintendent of Education), wrote a letter regarding the recent Vergara appeal decision, urging the appeals court to overturn their ruling because teachers in California are “grossly ineffective” (a term that pretty much sums up his tenure as Secretary of Education in Delaware).
So for those who were clamoring for Mark Murphy updates, this is it. I couldn’t find anything more on him. But if you miss him that much, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a link to Murphy’s Greatest Hits. He may not be causing direct trouble in Delaware, but it looks like he is one to watch out for at a national level, especially if Griptape takes off! Maybe even Jack Markell will buy stock in it!
The Season Of Myths 
One great thing the opt out movement accomplished was the mass exodus of corporate moles embedded in our Department of Education…
Have you stopped to realize that all Markell’s agenda has stalled and is on hold as he exits two terms that began with wanting to be known as the “education” governor….
John Young won.
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