Marquise White, the Maryland teacher who went viral for letting students take out his braids, has shared a positive update on his employment status.

He will return back to the classroom.

Viral Maryland Teacher who let students take out braids shares an update

On Friday, July 5, White shared an update on TikTok. The teacher explained that many social media users have been telling him to “get over” the viral incident. Additionally, he explained that he was “chilling for a while” until something major happened.

“Guess what? Guess who finally received a decision from the county on behalf of the superintendent, um, in regard to my employment status?” White said. “At first, I was really bothered by how long this process was taking… but now, as I’m looking back on it, I want to thank the county for taking their time and ensuring I wasn’t an actual weirdo who slipped through the cracks before they allowed me back into the classroom…”

White explained that people have been calling him “everything under the sun.” However, the district’s investigation found that the public’s “baseless claims” about him were unfounded.

@thilluminatin1 The tea is piping hot 🍵 #teacher #teachers #teachersoftiktok #teacherlife #teacherproblems #education #publiceducation #parenting ♬ som original – kk.

Ultimately, White thanked the public for their support and stated that he’ll be back in the classroom in August.

Viral video that started it all

White teaches science at the Maya Angelou French Immersion school in Hillcrest Heights, Md.

On May 5, White went live on TikTok of him sitting down as a few students unbraided his hair. He has more than 775,000 TikTok followers and several of his videos show him in the classroom teaching his students, as well as discussing life as an educator.

Following the viral video, several people have defended the teacher, while others have criticized his behavior. Prince George’s County Public Schools reassigned White out of the classroom pending the outcome of the investigation.

Asbury Park High School hosted a special event to commemorate the true meaning of Memorial Day by honoring local veterans.

The True Meaning of Memorial Day

To honor the veterans, Wilbur V. Martin, Vietnam Veteran, George Reed, Vietnam Veteran, Tina Watson, daughter to Tuskegee airman George Watson, Doris Richardson, who served in Desert Storm, Guatemala, and Iraqi Freedom, Rethel Smith, Vietnam Veteran, and Ken Hodges, Vietnam Veteran, came to Mr. Wronko’s  Asbury Park High School class to discuss not only their historical backgrounds but also the true meaning of Memorial Day.

George Reed

George Reed began the presentation telling the students about being a medic and also having George Watson as a friend and a running partner. From there, he gave the students a history overview of the Tuskegee Airmen. This led into Tina Watson’s presentation about her father George Watson and the Tuskegee Experience.

Tuskegee Airmen

Tina Watson (Photo Credit: David Wronko)

Tina shared multiple visuals and the awards her father received which included the Purple Heart and the Congressional Gold Medal. She explained to the students how the Tuskegee Airmen had to battle racism and discrimination to prove who they were which were pilots who had more successful missions protecting bombers than any other fighter pilot unit. Watson also showed clips from the movie Red Tails.

Vietnam Veteran

Rethel Smith

Next, Vietnam Veteran Rethel Smith spoke about his experience. Mr. Smith told the students about his military training and experience fighting the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. He encouraged the students to get educated and further themselves to achieving their life goals.

Doris Richardson

Doris Richardson (Photo Credit: David Wronko)

Once Rethel Smith spoke, Doris Richardson spoke about her experience in Desert Storm, Guatemala, and Iraqi Freedom.

Wilbur V. Martin

Wilbur V. Martin

Once she was done, Wilbur V. Martin closed out the session with explaining the true meaning of Memorial Day. He explained that Memorial Day should be a time when we honor our fallen military personnel and remember their sacrifice so we could have our freedom.

Mr. Wronko’s students enjoyed the presentations and asked the veterans numerous questions.

Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club

On an end note, just recently, Asbury Park High School students furthered their education by attending a Memorial Day Celebration at the Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club.

S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. has announced the launch of the groundbreaking SMART Tech Health Hub project in Opa-Locka, Florida, which aims to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education.

About the SMART Tech Health Hub

With $4,000,000 in funding from the state of Florida, this innovative initiative is the first of its kind in the city, aiming to provide residents, children, and families with access to high-quality STEM education, re-entry pathways to the STEM workforce, broadband width, and basic essential health services.

S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc founder Anike Sakariyawo

“The partnership with the Miami Foundation’s Digital Equity Collective program has been pivotal in advancing this initiative,” says Founder of SEEK Foundation, Inc., Anike Sakariyawo.  “We are looking to provide Opa-Locka community members of all ages access to educational resources and pathways to STEM careers to children and adults, and a space to innovate and follow individual curiosity.”

Beacon of opportunity and advancement

The Smart Tech Health Hub is looking to fill a void that has long been felt in the community as the City of Opa-Locka has no high school or technical facility.

Anticipated to be fully operational by December 2026, the SMART Tech Health Hub will serve as a beacon of opportunity and advancement for the local community, empowering individuals with the tools and resources needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven world.

The SMART Tech Health Hub will be a multifaceted building, serving a purpose for each level.

The first and second floors are designed for children and staff members of S.E.E.K foundation to conduct everyday operations for educational programs in STEM. This will include a pipeline program to create academic access to a specific industry (e.g. USDA – food, agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI) learning deployment and integration, cybersecurity, coding program, robotics, UI/UX Design, etc.).

The third floor will allow children and families to have access to basic health needs, such as annual shots/vaccinations, back to school boosters, telehealth, as additional sites for the community.

1st Annual Youth STEM Summit

This Summer,  S.E.E.K. Foundation, Inc. hosted their 1st Annual Youth STEM Summit, which inspired 500 young students about the opportunities and importance of STEM education. Through hands-on activities, interactive workshops, and informative presentations, they ignited curiosity and nurtured students’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

For more information, please visit: https://seekedu.org