Sussex Academy welcomes new board members
In a unanimous vote Nov. 20, Sussex Academy leaders approved the addition of new board members Tom Clark and Adrian Mobilia.
“We are very excited to welcome our two new directors,” said Kyle Bentley, head of school. “They are leaders in our community, and we look forward to what we can accomplish together in the future.”
As a financial analyst for Dogfish Head, Clark brings a wealth of skills and experience to his new role. With a fourth-grade son and a freshman daughter at Sussex Academy, Clark said he was motivated to join the board because of the amazing community created by school leaders.
“It’s a deeper way to contribute to the school than just as a parent,” said Clark, who lives in the Millsboro area.
Mobilia, owner of Salted Vines Vineyard & Winery in Frankford, also has a freshman daughter at Sussex Academy. School board involvement is a family tradition for Mobilia, whose father served for more than 30 years, with 25 of those as president, at a school board in North East, Pa.
“There’s a real need for people to get involved in their communities, and with a kid here, I have a vested interest in helping Sussex Academy,” said Mobilia, who is also a Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball official.
Board President Jen Donahue said Clark and Mobilia will bring valuable expertise and insight to the board’s work.
“Together with our Head of School Kyle Bentley and his dedicated administration, we will continue to work together and strive for excellence in education for all of our students,” she said.
Sussex Academy board members serve voluntary three-year terms. School bylaws call for between nine and 13 board members, and the board must include a certificated teacher at the elementary school, a certified teacher at the secondary school and a parent of a current student.
Board members have expertise in research-based curriculum and instructional strategies, business management, finance and accounting, personnel management, leadership and governance, health and wellness, diversity issues, at-risk populations and children with disabilities, school operations and law/legal issues.
