The Delaware State Education Association (DSEA) is a left-of-center teachers’ union representing teachers throughout the state of Delaware. It conducts legislative lobbying supporting left-of-center education and labor union-focused policies, endorses Democratic candidates for public office, and represents a claimed 12,000 K-12 public-school teachers in Delaware. The group is the state-level affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teacher’s union in the United States. The union conducts legislative lobbying. The union has been subject to leadership controversy since 2018, when it forced its president to resign over “sexist and racist” blog posts, and conducted what was described as a “fraught” leadership election process in 2023. ^{1 2 3 4}

Background

The Delaware State Education Association was founded in 1919 and is the official Delaware affiliate of the National Education Association, the largest public sector union in the United States which exerts significant influence in left-of-center politics and public policy. The union does not disclose its exact number of members on its website but states that it represents all the state’s approximately 12,000 K-12 public school teachers. ⁵

The union has expressed a commitment to left-of-center diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology and led a webinar series titled “Diversity in Delaware History” which included a session titled “LGBTQ+ History of Delaware: We Have Always Been Here.” ⁶

Stances

Much of the union’s work centers around promoting increased pay for teachers. The group’s 2023-2024 “Legislative Guiding Principles” document calls for the state to compete with Maryland which raised starting teacher pay to $60,000 annually beginning in 2027. ⁷

The union also supports decoupling teacher evaluations from test scores, claiming that “Educator evaluations will never be fair, valid or reliable when driven by test scores.” ⁸

The union also supports permitting sex-change operations and treatments for minors stating that “DSEA believes that, for students who are struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity, every school district and educational institution should provide appropriate support services and programs, including gender-affirming care.” ⁹

The union’s legislative principles further express a commitment to left-of-center diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology, stating that “DSEA will advocate for policies and practices that eliminate barriers preventing historically marginalized people, adult and juvenile, from exercising rights enjoyed by others. DSEA believes all persons should be guaranteed a safe and inclusive environment within the public education system. DSEA will advocate to eliminate public policies and practices that discriminate against marginalized groups, including women and people of color, in society and perpetuate stereotypes and biases about these groups.” ¹⁰

In 2024, the union endorsed Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long (D) for Governor. ¹¹

Leadership Controversies

In 2018, Delaware State Education Association president Mike Matthews, a fifth-grade teacher who was elected union president in 2017, was forced to resign following revelations “about sexist, racist, and other inflammatory remarks on his former blog.” ¹²

His remarks included calling “then-Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner [D] a ‘Butch Bitch.’ He wondered whether a video of ‘chocolate, caramel and vanilla brothas’ gang-raping’ Minner would boost her poll numbers.” Matthews was replaced by Stephanie Ingram as president of the union. ¹³

In 2023, the union conducted an election process the Delaware News-Journal described as “seemingly fraught” that “left members unsure of redress and uncertain whether desired change can be achieved, especially in the wake of numerous issues facing Delaware educators and the school system.” Results showed Ingram securing reelection amid confusion regarding the balloting process. ¹⁴

1. ^[1] “About DSEA.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/content/about-dsea
2. Barrish, Cris. “Delaware teachers union president resigns after sexist, racist blog posts unearthed.” WHYY PBS NPR. October 11, 2018. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-teachers-union-president-resigns-after-old-sexist-racist-blog-posts-unearthed/
3. “Legislative Guiding Principles 2023-24.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/sites/default/files/legislative_guiding_principles_2023.pdf
4. Fries, Amanda. “Why a seemingly fraught union election has Delaware educators concerned.” Delaware News Journal. February 16, 2023. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/02/16/delaware-educators-concern-over-seemingly-fraught-union-election/69898661007/
5. “About DSEA.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/content/about-dsea
6. “Diversity in Delaware History.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/content/diversity-delaware-history
7. “Legislative Guiding Principles 2023-24.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/sites/default/files/legislative_guiding_principles_2023.pdf
8. “Legislative Guiding Principles 2023-24.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/sites/default/files/legislative_guiding_principles_2023.pdf
9. “Legislative Guiding Principles 2023-24.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/sites/default/files/legislative_guiding_principles_2023.pdf
10. “Legislative Guiding Principles 2023-24.” Delaware State Teachers Association. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.dsea.org/sites/default/files/legislative_guiding_principles_2023.pdf
11. Sawicki, Rachel. “Delaware State Education Association endorses Bethany Hall-Long for Governor.” Delaware Public Media. June 13, 2024. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2024-06-13/delaware-state-education-association-endorses-bethany-hall-long-for-governor
12. Barrish, Cris. “Delaware teachers union president resigns after sexist, racist blog posts unearthed.” WHYY PBS NPR. October 11, 2018. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-teachers-union-president-resigns-after-old-sexist-racist-blog-posts-unearthed/
13.  Barrish, Cris. “Delaware teachers union president resigns after sexist, racist blog posts unearthed.” WHYY PBS NPR. October 11, 2018. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/delaware-teachers-union-president-resigns-after-old-sexist-racist-blog-posts-unearthed/
14. Fries, Amanda. “Why a seemingly fraught union election has Delaware educators concerned.” Delaware News Journal. February 16, 2023. Accessed September 13, 2024. https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2023/02/16/delaware-educators-concern-over-seemingly-fraught-union-election/69898661007/