Sussex Academy names Bentley as new Head of School

The Sussex Academy Board has picked Kyle Bentley to serve as the new Head of School.

Sussex Academy, a charter school on Airport Road in Georgetown that serves 1,170 students, has named its new head of school.

Kyle Bentley, who was most recently principal at H.O. Brittingham Elementary School in the Cape Henlopen School District , replaces Eric Anderson, who was at the helm for more than five years.

“As we embark on this journey together, I am deeply committed to maintaining and advancing the high standards of academic excellence and community engagement that Sussex Academy is known for across the state,” Bentley said in a statement to the school community. “Our charter promise to ‘Explore – Experience – Excel’ and our mission to foster academic achievement and social responsibility in a small school setting will guide our collective efforts.”

Before his principal position, Bentley was the assistant principal at Cape Henlopen High School , W.T. Chipman Middle School ( Lake Forest School District ) and Seaford High School ( Seaford School District ).

In 2020, he was recognized as the Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year.

Before his administrative work he taught in the School District of Philadelphia at Julia de Burgos Elementary School , a bilingual kindergarten through grade eight school in North Philadelphia. As a bilingual teacher, he taught first, third and fifth grade.

The mission of the Sussex Academy is to foster academic achievement and social responsibility in a small school environment where students participate in a highly accelerated college preparatory program that prepares them for the technological and global mindedness needed for the 21st century and that instills ethical conduct and service to others in their day-to-day lives.

The school serves grades kindergarten through 12. It typically has 40 spaces open for kindergarten, 80-90 spaces open for sixth graders and 20-30 for the high school grades.

Bentley graduated high school from Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania and  earned his bachelor’s degree in kindergarten and elementary education from Penn State University. He also has his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis upon educational leadership from Penn State.

Additionally, he completed coursework from the University of Delaware towards his Ed.D in educational leadership.

Bentley and his wife have lived in Sussex County for a decade with their two daughters, and the family enjoys surf fishing on the beach, traveling and spending time with friends.

“With his experience of teaching and leading in a variety of educational settings during his career, as well as his administrative experience as both an Assistant Principal and Principal, we are confident that Mr. Bentley will excel as our new Head of School and build upon our reputation of excellence at Sussex Academy,” the school administration said in a statement.