Head of School Updates
April 22nd, 2026
Today, we honored our administrative professionals at Sussex Academy! Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Allen, and Mrs. Eisenmann do so much each day to support our students, staff, families, and the broader community. I encourage all of our families to take a moment to thank them the next time you see them in our offices, respond to an email, or speak with them on the phone. We are incredibly grateful for their leadership and the positive impact they have on our school community.
I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize Mrs. Rogers publicly for all that she has done for Sussex Academy. Everyone reading this message has likely worked with her during the enrollment process and experienced the welcoming environment that she helps create. Mrs. Rogers will be retiring on July 1 and beginning an exciting new chapter. Thank you, Mrs. Rogers, for everything you have done for Sussex Academy!
Mrs. Janet Owens
As we celebrate the 25th year of Sussex Academy, there are many individuals who have contributed more than words can describe to our community. One of those educators is Mrs. Janet Owens.
Mrs. Owens’ leadership at Sussex Academy cannot be fully understood without recognizing her impact as a teacher, Director of Assessment and Accountability, Interim Head of School, and now as our Chief Academic Officer. Leaders like Mrs. Owens can never truly be replaced, but they do set a high bar for others to strive toward.
On June 30, Mrs. Owens will be retiring and beginning her next chapter. Thank you, Mrs. Owens, for everything you have done for Sussex Academy—we wish you nothing but the best in the future!
Dr. Maria “Nikki” Miller
As we move forward together, we are excited to share with families that Sussex Academy’s next Chief Academic Officer will be Dr. Maria “Nikki” Miller.
Dr. Miller brings a wealth of experience from positions across Sussex County and has served as a Supervisor of Instruction for the past four years. Prior to that, she held leadership roles as both a principal and assistant principal, and also brings experience as an instructional coach and secondary-level teacher.
Dr. Miller brings strong K–12 experience, established relationships across the county, and a proven track record of supporting student achievement and instructional growth. She was selected through a comprehensive interview process that included a performance task and feedback from key stakeholders, including Board members and school leadership.
Nikki will officially begin her role on June 1, 2026 to spend time learning with Mrs. Owens during the transition.
SA in the News
Keep up to date with school and student happenings by following us on Facebook and Instagram, and continue to check our website for our most recent news releases.
Thank you to all the parents who have shared the news about their child’s accomplishments! Please contact Ellen Driscoll at ellen.driscoll@saas.k12.de.us with news tips about your child.
Here are a couple recent headlines:
Clothing Drive
Clean out your closets and support a senior service project created by Alishba Ahmer and Marissa Davis – gently used items will be accepted through this Friday.
Odyssey of the Mind
Students, parents, teachers and staff are welcome to learn more about Odyssey of the Mind at a recognition pizza party and information session May 1!
Upcoming Dates
April 24 & 25 Seussical the Musical (see flyer below)
April 30 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM Math and Science Night (see flyers)
April 30 Dress Down Day ($2.00)
May 1 - Shorebirds Game 7:05 PM (vouchers sent home)
May 21 (K-2 @ 12:15 & 3-5 @1:30) Spring Concert & Art Show (see flyer below)
3rd - 5th grades State Testing Dates: 28 & 29. May 11, 12, 13, 14
Funland Tickets will be available to purchase from April 27 - May 4- 20% of sales will go to the school to be used for Field Day and other student activities.
June 5 - Field Day
Teacher Appreciation Week
Staff Appreciation Week is right around the corner, May 4th-May8th, and we'd love your help to make our teachers and staff feel extra special!
We're putting together a fun week of treats, gifts, and little surprises to show our amazing team how much we appreciate everything they do.
Here are two easy ways to participate:
Sign up to donate items through Sign Up Genius (Link Below)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AA5AC2FAAFBC25-63576580-your
Or simply email Paige directly at apm091590@gmail.com if you'd prefer to contribute something. Paige's Venmo for donations: @AlexaPaige915 https://venmo.com/u/AlexaPaige915 OR Cash can be given to the office.
Every contribution- big or small- makes a difference and helps brighten our staff's week! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you so much for your continued support- we couldn't do this without our wonderful parent volunteers!
Best,
Anum, Paige, & Rebecca
AP Exams
AP Exams will be held May 4 - May 15. If your child is scheduled to take an AP Exam, please review this information in preparation for exam day:
AP Exams - Student Information
Contact Mrs. Owens with any questions or concerns.
Autism Acceptance Month
While April provides an important opportunity to highlight autism acceptance, our work does not end here. Let us continue to foster a culture of understanding, inclusion, and belonging in all that we do, every day of the year. By continuing to model empathy, respect, and inclusion, we ensure that every member of our community feels valued and has a true sense of belonging.
With this goal in mind, we invite our families to connect with Autism Delaware, a state-wide organization that provides advocacy, resources, support for individuals, and opportunities to support our community.
Dress Down Day for ALL Students 6th - 12th Grade
Friday, May 1 - $2 dress down day to benefit the Performing Arts Boosters and Tri-M Music Honor Society
HS Art Show
Join us for our Annual High School Art Show on May 19! This special event highlights the creativity and talent of our high school students, featuring a wide range of artwork from across our programs. We encourage all families to attend, celebrate our student artists, and experience the incredible work on display. We hope to see you there!
Festival of Words
Festival of Words is almost here! Don’t miss out on this FREE event being held May 9th and a chance to meet some amazing authors! Register for Festival of Words by visiting this link.
✨ Prom 2026 is Almost Here! ✨
Get ready for an unforgettable evening— Prom 2026 will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the beautiful Cambria Hotel in Rehoboth Beach, DE!
✨ With great music, dancing, and lasting memories, Prom 2026 promises to be a truly special night.
Prom Night Timeline:
5:30 - Student arrival at Cambria Hotel
6:00 - 6:45 - Promenade (viewing area for families available)
7:00 - Dinner and dancing
9:00 - Prom Court and King/Queen announced - students cannot leave before this time
10:00 - Prom officially concludes
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Norton (caron.norton@saas.k12.de.us).
Senior Spirit Week:
Senior Spirit Week is April 27th - May 1. Only seniors participate in these dress down days
Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner, and we need your help! Our teachers do an incredible job supporting our students each day, and this is a great opportunity to show them how much they are valued by our school community.
Please click the link below to see how you can sign up and help make this week extra special for our staff. We are continuing to make this a K-12 effort. Thank you, in advance, for your support!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4EADAA2EA5FE3-63674097-teacher
