Delaware
New child care center coming to Wilmington in 2026: Education roundup
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As the winter holidays fade to memory, most Delaware schools should be heating back up.
In the Wilmington area, two Catholic schools – Archmere and Nativity Prep – have announced new leadership at their highest ranks. And in the same city this spring, the YMCA of Delaware is slated to bring its new Early Learning Academy on the East Side.
Also just ahead of the new year, Delaware Community Foundation announced open applications for some 82 scholarships. Last year, that meant more than $850,000 in aid for Delaware students.
In this weekly roundup, we’ll catch you up on these and other education stories you may have missed.
(Did we miss another good education story? Let me know: kepowers@gannett.com)
Wilmington will soon see a new YMCA Early Learning Academy
YMCA of Delaware is looking to inject more affordable child care into Delaware’s largest city.
As previously reported, the Community Education Building – or a Wilmington high-rise packed with four schools, seven nonprofits, some 1,500 students and family services – is bringing its new, 11,000-square-foot Youth Development Center next door, on Wilmington’s East Side. And thanks to this partnership, it will now include a YMCA Early Learning Academy.
Launching this spring, the academy will gear up to serve up to 100 children, according to a press release, from infancy through pre-K. Enrollment begins Jan. 5, according to the YMCA.
The academy will “focus on nurturing academic readiness, social-emotional development, and lifelong confidence during the most critical years of child development,” according to the nonprofit. All said, the goal is to ensure each child gets “a strong start.”
The overall youth center came together with well over $20 million in funding, fueling aims for athletic facilities, spaces for workforce development programs, an early learning center and more near the 1200 block of Wilson St.
“This project is about opportunity – creating a space where families feel supported and every child has the chance to succeed,” said Jarrett Royster, CEO of the YMCA of Delaware, in a statement.
ICYMI: New scholarships for Delaware students available
The Delaware Community Foundation has opened applications for its 2026–2027 scholarships.
From Dec. 15, 2025, to March 15, 2026, students can apply for 82 scholarships covering a wide variety of majors, backgrounds, and financial needs. For the first time, according to the foundation, that also includes funding for students pursuing trade programs. The aid is fueled by community donors.
Awards range from a single $500 payment – to one-time awards of $20,000 or four-year scholarships of $10,000 a year.
Just last year, the foundation said it awarded some $851,500 to 245 Delaware students, a 30% increase from the year before. This year they’re right back at it.
Interested students and families should check out the 2026-2027 Scholarship Compendium online.
Archmere Academy announces new head of school
Just before the holiday season hit full swing, Archmere Academy announced a new head of school to lead the historic, Catholic prep school’s next chapter.
That will be Daniel Hickey of Archmere’s own class of 1989.
Hickey will have hefty shoes to fill. According to this Dec. 16 appointment announcement, Michael Marinelli has led the Claymont institution for the last 15 years. Marinelli is looking to retire, as he told his board of trustees about two years ago, after a long stint strengthening enrollment, enhancing campus and steering a school through pandemic shutdown.
Now, after an “extensive national and international search,” the board has approved Hickey to step up, effective July 1, 2026. The next head of school already maintains “deep ties” to Archmere, according to the school, alongside experience in leadership and Catholic education.
After graduating, he headed to Dickinson College to major in English and minor in fine arts, while also playing football. English remains his passion subject to teach. Later, he worked in admissions in both Dickinson and American University, where he also earned his master’s degree in literature. He returned to Archmere in 1998 to lead, teach and coach football.
By 2006, he was wrapping up his doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, according to Archmere, and he joined Tower Hill. There, he held various positions of leadership, including head of the Upper School. Since 2017, Hickey has been head of school at Upland Country Day School in Pennsylvania.
As Hickey said in a portion of his first written statement to the Archmere community: “I am extremely excited and deeply committed to leading Archmere into its next chapter – solidifying its reputation as one of the finest independent Catholic schools in the nation, while preserving and renewing the heritage and communion that has meant so much in my own life.”
Wilmington’s Nativity Prep School names new president
The Nativity Preparatory School – a tuition-free, Catholic middle school for boys in the heart of Wilmington – also just named its next leader.
Tony Alleyne will serve as the next president of the school, effective Jan. 5, bringing more more than 20 years of experience in education and leadership to the school in its 23rd year. The board of trustees announced the hire on Dec. 29.
“Dr. Alleyne brings a rare combination of educational excellence, visionary non-profit leadership and deep care for young people,” said Pat Blewett, chair of the board, in the announcement.
Alleyne most recently worked as the founder and executive director of Delaware College Scholars, a nonprofit promoting college access and more. That program has raised more than $10 million, according to Nativity Prep, while managing a $1.2 million organizational budget and other student supports.
Before that post, Alleyne also spent a decade at St. Andrew’s School near Middletown. The educator worked as a history teacher, coach, dorm parent, college counselor and senior admissions administrator – later rising to interim director of admissions. He has also worked in North Carolina, where his teaching career began, as well as a stint in Shanghai.
Here in Delaware, Alleyne has served on several boards, while also earning national and regional honors. The new president brings with him a doctorate in educational leadership from University of Pennsylvania, alongside a mater’s degree from Columbia University’s Klingenstein Center.
“Nativity’s belief in the dignity, brilliance, and potential of young men – especially those from communities like the one I grew up in – aligns perfectly with my own values and life’s work,” Alleyne said in a statement.
Got another education tip? Contact Kelly Powers at kepowers@usatodayco.com.
Is Jersey Mike’s the new fast‑food king? How it beat Chick‑fil‑A
Jersey Mike’s beats Chick-fil-A for top customer satisfaction in ACSI study; praised for fresh, made-to-order subs.
Plans for one of the nation’s most popular fast-food chains to open a location in the city of Delaware are moving forward.
Chick-fil-A is planning a new 5,033-square-foot restaurant with a double drive-through lane on a nearly 2-acre site on Delaware’s east side.
The development plans are headed to Delaware City Council after the city’s Planning Commission approved them July 1.
This location would be the first Chick-fil-A in the city of Delaware, but not in the county. The chain has a location in Lewis Center and three in the Polaris area, according to the company’s website.
The popular chicken restaurant, a Chipotle location and other to-be-announced restaurants and retail are part of a new Trailhead Crossing development planned on the eastern edge of Delaware near Sunbury Road (State Route 36) and Sky View Lane, documents indicate. City council approved rezoning the site in February.
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The restaurant will include 92 indoor seats, an outdoor patio with 20 seats and 68 parking spots, planning documents show.
An internal access drive connecting to Sky View Lane from the west and Biltmore Drive from the north will be built within the site and will connect to all the lots within the Trailhead Crossing development. The access from Sky View Lane will be right-in/right-out only. The site will not have access directly from Sunbury Road, city documents state.
Chris Tebbe, an engineer with the Dublin-based firm Tebbe Civil Engineering, didn’t know an exact opening date for the restaurant, but said once plans are approved by the City Council, crews will be working on the location this year into next year.
Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 10:19PM
ASTON, Pa. (WPVI) — Summer camps are in full swing, and on Wednesday the Action Cam was in Aston, where kids are getting some hands-on learning at Delaware County Technical School.
Middle school students are exploring career pathways as they build, cook, design and create in state-of-the-art classrooms.
They are doing everything from carpentry to cosmetology.
By the end of camp, the kids will create STEAM-based projects that they can take home.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Across the State Trained AmeriCorps VISTA members will be on-site at 21 Delaware Libraries providing walk-in assistance for digital literacy
DOVER, Del. — The Delaware Libraries today announced the launch of a 10-week summer program aiming to support Delawareans on digital literacy.
The AmeriCorps Digital Literacy Specialists assist the public with computer and technology questions, including completing online applications, navigating websites, and building basic digital skills. As patrons become more comfortable, specialists can introduce them to the many free computer training programs and learning resources available through Delaware Libraries including in-person classes. This project is an initiative of the Division’s Social Innovation Team.
“Libraries are proud to expand their digital literacy specialist supports this summer with a presence in 21 Delaware Libraries,” said Dr. Annie Norman, State Librarian of Delaware. “The digital landscape is ever evolving, and the Delaware Libraries stands at the ready to help Delawareans navigate AI, software skills, social media concepts, and more.”
There is no appointment needed for a meeting or to ask a question to a Specialist.
The Specialists are trained to support many concepts, including:
- Essential Software Skills
- Personalized Assistance
- Workplace Technology
- AI – Understanding & Help
- Basic Computer Skills & Classes
- Social Media Help
- Navigate Internet, Avoid Scams
- Using Tech in Daily Life, Device Help
- Learning Express, Northstar Certification
- And Much More!
Visit DelawareLibraries.org/Digital to view a full schedule of Specialists. For more services visit DelawareLibraries.org/GetConnected!
Delaware Libraries offer specialty library cards for every age group, including a My First Delaware Library Card for birth to age 5, a Super Library Card for children ages 6–12; a Teen Delaware Library Card for ages 13-17 and Delaware Library cards for everyone.
Sign up for a Delaware Library Card today! It’s Easy! It’s Free! It’s Online!
Instructions in Spanish are also available. (En el sitio web de las bibliotecas de Delaware se pueden encontrar instrucciones en español para obtener una tarjeta de biblioteca gratuita de Delaware)
Programming celebrating the Delaware Libraries’ 125th anniversary will continue throughout the year.
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