PRESSRELEASESeptember8,2016MediaContact:GinaDerrickson302-856-3636gina.derrickson@saas.k12.de.usSussexAcademyopeneditsdoorsonAugust29forthefirstdayofaveryexcitingschoolyear.700studentsareenrolledforthe2016-17academicschoolyearandSussexAcademywillcelebrateitsfirsthighschoolgraduation.Ofthefortygraduatingseniors,seventeenwillbegraduatinginJune2017withbothaDelawareandanInternationalBaccalaureateDiploma.For2016,SussexAcademyisrankedfirstinthestateintheSmarterBalancedAssessmentConsortium(SBAC)testsformiddleschoolEnglishLanguageArtsandsecondinthestateformiddleschoolmath.The10thgradeisrankedfirstinthestateintheDelawareComprehensiveAssessmentSystem(DCAS)inSocialStudies.OurseniorsaresecondinthestateinEnglishandfourthinthestateinmathontheStandardizedAptitudeTest(SAT).Constructionofthenewmiddleschoolwingisnearcompletion.The30,000squarefootwinghas12classrooms,3sciencelabs,officesandamultipurposeroom.Themultipurposeroomwillbeusedforthemiddleschoolphysicaleducationclasses,teamexpeditionshowcasesandmiddleschoolteamwidemeetingsandactivities.Itismiddleschoolbasketballregulationsizeissuitableforhighschoolvolleyballgames.Constructiononanaquaticcenter,agifttotheschoolfromSchellBrothers,isscheduledforcompletionbyOctober.SussexAcademywelcomesseveralnewteacherstothefacultythisyear:AndreaDavisisteachinghighschoolliterature.ComingfromtheLaurelDistrictthisyearwillmarkhereighthyearofteachinginDelaware.Priortoteachingsheworkedasawriter,researchproofreaderandanartist.WithherB.A.indualconcentrationsinBiologyandEnglishLiteratureanddualMaster’sdegreesinEducationandSpecialEducation,DavisiscurrentlyinhersecondyearofpursuingherDoctorateinLiteracy,

CurriculumandInstructionwithafocusonliteracytechnologyandglobalcommunications.DavisresidesinSalisbury,MDwithherhusbandandtwochildren.JoshBoweisteachingsocialstudies.AgraduatefromtheUniversityofDelaware,hehasbeenteachingfor15years.Comingfromteachingsocialstudiesforthelast8yearsintheWoodbridgeDistrict,BowehasalsotaughtinColoradoandNewJersey.HeresidesinSeafordwithhiswifeandthreechildren.CarrieCurryisthenewpart-timeGeometryteacher.AsagraduateoftheUniversityofDelaware,sheiscurrentlypursuingherMaster’sDegreefromWilmingtonUniversity.CurryalsoteachesAcademicChallengeandMathforTeachersatDelawareTechnicalCommunityCollege.SheresidesinLeweswithherthreechildrenandherdog.GregCrinitiisteachingSTEM.AgraduatefromWestVirginiaTech,whichisnowpartofWestVirginaUniversity,hehashisB.S.degreeinmechanicalengineering.Crinitibecameateacherafterworkingfor20yearsinindustry.Nowinhis13thyearofteaching,heiscertifiedinmathematicsandphysics,andhasamaster’sineducationfromGratzCollege.CrinitiresidesinEaston,MDwithhiswifeand13-year-oldtwinchildren.Dr.SuzanneE.Donovanisthenewpart-timehighschoolpsychologyteacher.SheisalsoanAdjunctProfessorofPsychologyatWilmingtonUniversity.SheattendedMoravianCollegeforherBA,ChestnutHillCollegeforherMasters,andWilmingtonCollegeforherdoctorate.DonovanresidesinMilfordwithherretiredNavalofficerhusbandand3dogs.Shehas8sons,19grandchildren,and2greatgrandchildrenwithanotheroneontheway.StephanieShermanisthenewpart-time9thgradehealthandintegratedscienceteacher.SherecentlyrelocatedtoLeweswithherhusbandandtwin4yearoldsonsfromSpringLake,Michiganwhereshespentthelastsevenyearsteachinghighschoolenvironmentalscienceandchemistry.Inaddition,SteveBastianellihasbeenhiredasthenewathletic.“Wearelookingforwardtoagreatschoolyear,“saidDr.PatriciaOliphant,DirectorofCurriculumandInstruction.“Weareexcitedtohaveourfirstgraduatingclass,tohavereachedenrollmentof700andtoseetheresultsofthefour-yearconstructionproject.”SussexAcademyisapubliccharter,tuitionfreeschoollocatedinGeorgetownDelaware.FormoreinformationaboutthemiddleschoolandhighschoolpleasecontactGinaDerricksonatgina.derrickson@saas.k12.de.us.

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