St. Anne’s Episcopal School is pleased to announce that Barry L. Davis will be the next Head of School starting on July 1, replacing Peter Thayer who has filled this role for 11 years.

Mr. Davis is coming to St. Anne’s from Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he has been the Middle School Director for four years.  With 38 years of experience as an educator, Mr. Davis has helped young people to reach their potential as an administrator, teacher, and coach at schools including Brooklyn Friends School (New York), Flint Hill School (Virginia), the Metropolitan Learning Center, Inter-District Magnet School for Global and International Studies and Technology (Connecticut), Worcester Academy (Massachusetts), Eastern Connecticut State University, St. Lawrence University (New York), and University of Dallas (Texas).

“My path to Middletown has been one of synchronicity and faith,” Mr. Davis said, “The friends I sought were seeking me as well.  St. Anne’s Episcopal School is a place that is committed to the relationship between religious values, ethical behavior, academic rigor, social justice, and environmental sustainability.  The Herons’ core values of Respect, Responsibility, and Compassion are not a mere suggestion, they are the foundation and fabric of the community.  I am delighted to step into the role of leading this school.”

Mr. Davis earned his B.S. in Physical Education at St. Lawrence University. Two years later he earned an M.Ed. in Educational Counseling and Human Development. These degrees were followed by a second M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and School Administration and Supervision from Central Connecticut State University.

“I am delighted to welcome Mr. Davis as St. Anne’s third Head of School in 17 years,” said St. Anne’s board president and search committee chair, Ana Ramirez.  “Mr. Davis’s appointment is the culmination of a search that included qualified candidates from across the nation and around the globe. Ultimately, Barry’s experience as a leader and educator in a variety of school settings, coupled with his values, passions and goals for the St. Anne’s community as well as his vision for its future success made him the clear choice to follow and build upon the excellent work of his remarkable predecessor, Mr. Peter Thayer.”

St. Anne’s Episcopal School is a co-ed independent day school for children Pre-school (age 3) through 8th grade (https://www.stannesde.org). Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, St. Anne’s academic program is geared to prepare students for a rigorous high school experience and provides a student/teacher ratio of 7:1. St. Anne’s is located on 125 scenic acres in Middletown, Delaware, and is committed to the development of the whole child through intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School is pleased to welcome six new faculty and staff members, including a new Director of Finance and Operations this year.  Jesse Hushion is teaching Fourth Grade; she holds a B.A. from Brown University and a M.A. in Childhood and Special Education from Mount St. Mary’s.  Stephanie Kepplinger is Associate Teacher in the Second Grade; she holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Elon University.  Kayce Scioli is a Kindergarten Lead Teacher; she holds a B.S.E. in Elementary Education from Cabrini College.  Sarah Shpak is teaching Middle School Computer Science, STEM, and is a sixth grade advisor; she holds a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Delaware.  Minerva Vargas-Miletti is teaching Middle School Spanish and is a seventh grade advisor; she holds a B.A. in Education and Theater from the University of Puerto Rico.  Danielle Cummins has joined St. Anne’s staff as Administrative Assistant and Registrar. She holds a B.S. in Design from Drexel University.

Photo: St. Anne’s Episcopal School added seven new faculty members and staff for the new school year. (from left to right) Danielle Cummins (Administrative Assistant and Registrar), Kayce Scioli (Kindergarten Teacher), Aimée Weil (Director of Finance and Operations), Stephanie Kepplinger (Second Grade Associate Teacher), Sarah Shpak (Middle School STEM and Computer Science), Jesse Hushion (Fourth Grade Teacher) and Minerva Vargas-Miletti (Middle School Spanish).

Aimée Perez-Weil is the new Director of Finance and Operations at St. Anne’s Episcopal School, replacing Claudia Sardo who retired after fifteen years.  Ms. Perez-Weil started at St. Anne’s this summer and has overseen many campus improvements made possible by the recently completed Capital Campaign, including the construction of a new middle school music room and the conversion of many classrooms into more flexible learning spaces with new furnishings and technology.  Aimée holds an MBA from the University of Baltimore where she also received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting.  She comes to St. Anne’s from the Institute of Notre Dame, an all-girls high school in Baltimore City, where she worked for seven years.  Her success there and at other non-profits in the region earned her the 2014 “Best in Finance – CFO Award” according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School is a co-ed independent day school for children Pre-school (age 3) through 8th grade (https://www.stannesde.org). Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, St. Anne’s academic program is geared to prepare students for a rigorous high school experience and provides a student/teacher ratio of 7:1. St. Anne’s is located on 125 scenic acres in Middletown, Delaware, and is committed to the development of the whole child through intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School has been selected as one of three schools in the United States to serve as a Model School for the newly published Singapore Math textbook, “think!Mathematics.”   Upon completion of the program next year, St. Anne’s will become certified as a “Model School” in implementing effective mathematics instruction and will have the ability to hold training sessions on campus supported by international experts in Singapore Math as well as host potential lesson studies for visiting teachers.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School First Grade Teachers Tara Liguori and Melissa Meier.

Our students are thinking about math differently,” said Valerie White, Director of Curriculum and Instruction. “The changes we have made to our teaching methods through the implementation of Singapore Math have also had a positive impact on our teaching in other subject areas.  We know that in order to maximize learning, students need to be able to think flexibly and communicate their reasoning in multiple ways.  The excitement and enthusiasm for learning has been palpable.”

St. Anne’s introduced the Singapore Math approach to teaching mathematics in September 2016 in Kindergarten through Second Grade with help in part from a Longwood Foundation grant.   This past school year, First Grade Teachers Tara Liguori and Melissa Meier were two of just 12 teachers participating in a project to pilot the “think!Mathematics” textbook and workbook for the U.S. market with Sarah Schaefer and Dr. Yeap Ban Har, two of the foremost Singapore Math thinkers in the world.

“I asked Tara and Melissa to be a part of our study because they have embraced the whole methodology & pedagogy of Singapore Math from the very beginning,” Sarah Schaefer said.   “They are excited about what they are doing.  They want to get better.  Anything that will make them better, or their students better, they will do.  They are truly invested in that.”

Third graders Sania Baig and Maliya Dover.

The introduction of these new Singapore Math materials will occur in First through Fifth Grade over two years.  St. Anne’s will also pilot a new Singapore Math text in Kindergarten next year which was co-authored by Sarah Schaefer.

“Singapore Math is about learning a different way of thinking about math,” Melissa Meier said, “It required a big shift.”  Tara Liguori added “You have to be flexible in your thinking in order to evolve, and that can be challenging.  This is something our school does well, we take a growth mindset.”

Located in Middletown, DE, St. Anne’s Episcopal School (www.stannesde.org) is a Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8 co-ed independent day school that focuses on academic excellence and spiritual growth in a small, family-oriented and diverse community. Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, the school’s academic program prepares students for honors course work in the finest area high schools through its commitment to intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth and character development.

Twenty-nine young men and women recently graduated in the Class of 2018 at St. Anne’s Episcopal School.  They will attend seventeen high schools, among them Archmere Academy, Bohemia Manor High School, Caesar Rodney High School, The Charter School of Wilmington, Dover High School, The Gunston School, Middletown High School, MOT Charter High School, North Harford High School, Padua Academy, Phillips Academy Andover, Sanford School, St. Andrew’s School, Tatnall School, Tower Hill School, and Ursuline Academy.  The graduating class included students from Crumpton, Cecilton, Chesapeake City, Elkton, and Warwick, MD.

Each year St. Anne’s invites several of its graduating students to speak at their commencement.  The speakers’ reflections about their past and anticipation of their future included:

Photo: St. Anne’s Episcopal School Class of 2018. Back Row: Jiya Patel, Alani Davila, Justina Guity, Abigail White, Brianna Cordova, Vivian Wiggins, Jaylen Douglas, Amaan Rather, Stanley Chen, William Hurtt, Dylan Smallwood, Luke Ratliff, Jacob Austin, Sophie Hoopes, Emma Applegate, Madelyn Galbus, Emily Smith, Allaire Berl, Emma Long. Front Row: Rachel Fonder, Lauren Drain, Anastasia Clair, Caroline Bennett, Emily Heath, Megan Disabella, Jordyn Gueh, Madison Hanlon, Sophia Shroyer, Malini Lodhavia.

Taking leaps of faith while at St. Anne’s helped me find who I am. I would have never taken sport pictures if I did not just say “yes.” I would have never talked in front of the entire school during chapel or shared my music if I did not just say “yes.” The support of everyone I surround myself with has helped me change my perspective on life, and that is what I needed when I came here. – Emma Long

Danny K. Davis says, “Middle school students are at a critical time in their lives when making good choices matters – the decisions they make in these formative years have an impact on their future success.” I completely stand by that message. We learn from each other and build each other up. We have learned to not play the victim and that, as Mark Twain states, “The world owes us nothing.” What had happened two years ago does not matter. It only matters on how we rebound, how we get back up, and how we conquer the challenges. – Brianna Cordova

From the culmination of everything we have learned in eighth grade and years past, I think I have found my own answer. I have to listen for those who cannot be heard. I have to be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. I have to remind myself that even when others are facing the greatest challenges, whether it is my classmates preparing for one of Mrs. Wolinski’s science tests or people in third world countries facing poverty every day, even the smallest actions we take can make a difference. I am now confident that it is ever more important for our generation to stand up for what is right, and to shut down what is wrong. – Jiya Patel

Located in Middletown, DE, St. Anne’s Episcopal School (www.stannesde.org) is a Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8 co-ed independent day school that focuses on academic excellence and spiritual growth in a small, family-oriented and diverse community. Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, the school’s academic program prepares students for honors course work in the finest area high schools through its commitment to intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth and character development.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School is breaking ground on a new middle school music room as one of the campus improvements made possible by the Open Hearts, Open Minds capital campaign.  The new room will be an extension to the middle school building wing and Middletown-based PHB Inc. has been contracted to build the addition.

St. Anne’s Campaign Committee Members and staff use the same shovel that broke ground when the school was built in 2002 to start the project of adding a new middle school music room to the building.

“Anyone who has been to a St. Anne’s Christmas or Spring Concert can attest to the quality of our Music Program and the joy it brings to so many,” said campaign co-chair, Caroline Prickett.  “To quote John Lennon and Paul McCartney, ‘with a little help from my friends,’ we can build it for the kids.”

Open Hearts, Open Minds is the school’s first campaign since opening its doors in 2002.  To date parents, grandparents, trustees, foundations, and friends of the school have pledged over $2 million towards the $2.3 million dollar goal.

Located in Middletown, DE, St. Anne’s Episcopal School (www.stannesde.org) is a Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8 co-ed independent day school that focuses on academic excellence and spiritual growth in a small, family-oriented and diverse community. Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, the school’s academic program prepares students for honors course work in the finest area high schools through its commitment to intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth and character development.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School is pleased to announce a summer camp program for children ages 3 to 13 led by St. Anne’s faculty in 2018.  Four themed weeks of day camp including Nature, Sea & Sky, Risky Business, and Anything Goes, will operate from 8:30am to 3:30pm for the weeks of June 18-22, June 25-29, July 9-13, and July 16-20 at a rate of $275 per week, with a $25 discount for complete registrations received before March 29.  Interested families may visit www.StAnnesDE.org/summer to learn more.

“We are thrilled to offer enriching summer opportunities that include outdoor exploration on St. Anne’s 125-acre campus, tinkering, crafts, cooking and even NASA-sponsored STEM sessions to the greater community for children as young as three years old,” said Summer Camp Co-Director Meghan Ferster, “Morning and afternoon sessions are led by our wonderful St. Anne’s faculty.  Missy Derabertis, Allison DeFino, Stacie Emerson, Kathy Hanna, Bethany Otwell, April Smallwood, and Kirsten Swift are leading multiple camp sessions.”

“I am excited to lead children in fun projects  like STEM structures that can withstand earthquake forces, a “Viking vs. Pirate” boat building contest, designing the ultimate treasure map, and constructing a catapult,” added Bethany Otwell, St.  Anne’s Middle School STEM teacher and Camp Co-Director. “Every week offers new adventures and opportunities for learning.”

At St. Anne’s Episcopal School, the goal is  to open the hearts and minds of each student — through academic excellence, spiritual development, and a small, family-oriented and diverse community. St. Anne’s is a co-ed independent day school for children in Preschool (age 3) through grade 8. Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002,  the academic program prepares students for honors course work in the finest area high schools through its commitment to intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth and character development.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School is pleased to announce that nearly $1.9 million have been raised in support of a $2.3 million Open Hearts, Open Minds capital campaign, the first since the school opened its doors in 2002.  At the Founders’ Circle Party celebrating donors and volunteers on February 23rd, Head of School Peter Thayer formally announced the campaign, which will be used to upgrade the St. Anne’s campus for the future, support and retain world class educators, and expand the school’s financial aid program by adding $1 million to the endowment.  Less than 18% of the campaign remains to be raised.

“In this next phase of the campaign we invite parents, alumni, and friends of the school to participate so that we can be our best over the next decade,” Mr. Thayer said.  “With this generous and transformational giving, teachers can become even better educators, our campus will have the best and most current spaces for students to create, explore, and innovate, and even more children can walk through our red doors.”

Members of the St. Anne’s Episcopal School Board of Trustees and Capital Campaign Committee

Thayer explained some of the changes that have already begun at St. Anne’s as a result of this campaign, including the introduction of the Singapore Math program, the Superkids Early Literacy Program, the creation of an Innovation Lab, the expansion of after school programs, and a significant investment in faculty professional development.  New construction of a Middle School music room will provide better acoustics as well as easy access to instruction in multiple instruments, rehearsal, and recording in the school’s instrumental program.

Foundations and donors that are already supporting the capital campaign include The Longwood Foundation, The Chichester duPont Foundation, the Crestlea Foundation, the Crystal Trust, the Welfare Foundation,and current and former faculty, staff, parents and grandparents at the school.  The St. Anne’s Board of Trustees and Capital Campaign Committee have contributed $800,000 to the campaign.

“We are honored to partner with our donors to accomplish the most lasting and important action we can take for the future: educating the next generation,” said St. Anne’s Board of Trustees President, Ana Ramirez. “Together, we are growing the heart, mind and spirit of each child here!”

Located in Middletown, DE, St. Anne’s Episcopal School (www.stannesde.org) is a Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8 co-ed independent day school that focuses on academic excellence and spiritual growth in a small, family-oriented and diverse community. Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, the school’s academic program prepares students for honors course work in the finest area high schools through its commitment to intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth and character development.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School 7th and 8th grade students qualified for the Delaware Secondary School Mathematics League’s State Invitational competition, which will be held in April.  Zach Mozher was the high scorer among all 7th graders at the four regional meets and Amaan Rather and and Stanley Chen tied for second place top scorers in the region for 8th graders. The St. Anne’s seventh grade qualifying team includes Farah El-Jazzar, Zach Mozher, Niha Mukkamala, Jordan Myrick, and Aina Puri.  The eighth grade qualifying team includes Emma Applegate, Caroline Bennett, Stanley Chen, Jiya Patel, Luke Ratliff, and Amaan Rather.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School 7th Grader Zach Mozher (left), is the top scorer for his grade in the Delaware Math League for the region. 8th graders Stanley Chen and Amaan Rather tied for 2nd place in the region.

Only the top scorers from the four regional meets qualify for Math League’s State Invitational. Math League Coach Kelsey Main is proud of her “mathletes” creative problem solving, persistence, creativity, and teamwork in the competitions.

The Delaware Math League is sponsored by the Delaware Council of Teachers of Mathematics, or DCTM.  The purpose of Math League is to cultivate an interest in mathematics through team competition.  Located in Middletown, DE, St. Anne’s Episcopal School (stannesde.org) is a Preschool (age 3) through Grade 8 co-ed independent day school that focuses on academic excellence and spiritual growth in a small, family-oriented and diverse community. Founded by visionary educators from St. Andrew’s School in 2002, the school’s r academic program prepares students for honors course work in the finest area high schools through its commitment to intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and artistic growth and character development.