Sussex Academy elementary teacher receives state environmental award

The work of Sussex Academy elementary teacher Donald Ott was honored recently by the Delaware Association for Environmental Education.

Ott, a math and science teacher who also serves as the school garden coordinator, received the Healthy Innovation Award for Excellence during DAEE’s 16th Annual Environmental Education Conference, held Feb. 28 at Odessa High School.

The award recognizes new approaches to connecting children, individuals and/or families with the outdoors and healthy lifestyles in Delaware. Event organizers said Ott was presented with the award because he has prioritized environmental science within the curriculum and provides students with hands-on experiences in sustainable agriculture.

"I am deeply honored by this recognition, which is a testament to the experiential learning culture at Sussex Academy,” Ott said. “Thanks to the support of Dean Connie Hendricks and our community, we’ve turned the garden into a living laboratory where students don't just study science – they grow it."

Dean of Elementary Connie Hendricks said the award is a well-deserved validation of Ott’s vision.

“What Mr. Ott has built is more than just a garden; it’s a living laboratory,” Hendricks said. “He has changed how our students engage with the natural world, turning abstract environmental concepts into tangible, sustainable lessons. Watching our students go from learning about plant life cycles in a classroom to harvesting vegetables they grew is inspiring.”

Sussex Academy is a tuition-free, public charter K-12 school in Georgetown.