Former Atlantic City, NJ, Superintendent Comes After Current One

R. Mark Harris is the former Atlantic City, New Jersey Superintendent of Public Schools.

Whenever the current Superintendent, La’Quetta Small was away, Harris served as Atlantic City Superintendent. That’s how significant Harris prior substitute work was at the district.

Harris Letter To Small Is Blunt & Direct

We have received a copy of Harris’ letter to Small and Lisa M. Moody, Director of Special Education Atlantic City Public Schools.

In the subject line of the 4-page letter, it reads …

URGENT: Formal Demand for Immediate Remediation of Severe IDEA Violations, Denial of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Procedural Safeguards Violations, Lack of Individualization, and Apparent Retaliation in the Case of my student DOB: XX-XX-XXXX, State Student ID: XXXXXXXXXX

The letter is dated June 11, 2025.

Harris Makes Serious Allegation

Please be advised that I am the above referenced student's legally designated educational representative, acting under a Special Power of Attorney for Education, a copy of which has been provided to the school district.

My student is a verbal child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Emotional Regulation Impairment (ERI). He is NOT nonverbal, nor has he been diagnosed as autistic. Despite this classification, my student has been egregiously and inappropriately placed in a nonverbal autistic class for the entire current school year. This misplacement is inherently detrimental to his educational, social, and emotional development, and constitutes a fundamental denial of FAPE, wrote Harris to Small and Moody.

La’Quetta Small Denied Harris The Ability To Serve As Student Advocate

Harris claims that a principal (following an order from La’Quetta Small) would not allow him to serve as the advocate for the affected child.

Harris wrote:

On Monday, June 9, 2025, my student's parent scheduled an IEP meeting and invited me to attend as her chosen advocate, exercising her right under IDEA. However, Principal Grimes explicitly stated that my attendance was barred by a direct order from his "boss," citing an alleged "conflict of interest" due to my prior administrative substitute work in the school district.

This claim is specious, legally indefensible, and a clear pretext for denying my student his rights.

My role as my student's advocate, acting under a Special POA, is distinct from a temporary substitute role, and does NOT create a legitimate conflict that supersedes a parent's fundamental right to bring an individual with knowledge or expertise to an IEP meeting, wrote Harris.

Atlantic City Public Schools May Need Harris Superintendent Certificate?

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife, La’Quetta Small have been criminally indicted.

Should their separate upcoming trials not work out, Atlantic City could have two significant openings.

The City Council President would become Acting Mayor should Marty Small be removed from office.

That would be ironic, as that is how Small initially became Mayor 5 years ago.

Harris could initially be called upon to help the Atlantic City Public Schools should La’Quetta Small be removed from her appointive office.

SOURCE: R. Mark Harris 4-page letter to La’Quetta Small & Lisa Moody.