New assistant principal ready to take technology lead

Nikki Miller wasn't looking to leave Seaford High when she applied for an open assistant principal position at Cape earlier this summer.

She had worked hard establishing the International Baccalaureate program at Seaford and figured she would stay there and see it through. But when Assistant Principal Janet Maull Martin decided to retire last school year leaving an open position, Miller said she decided to apply.

"I saw the posting for this position and thought it was a long shot, but I'll give it a try," she said.

A phone call and a few interviews later, Miller said she was glad she did. She remembers spending the day at the school and how impressed she was with the students and administration.

"I'm in the best job now," she says with a distant downstate drawl, the result of a childhood spent growing up in the Lake Forest area.

The 2000 Lake Forest grad went to York College for education and ended up earning her secondary social studies education degree at Delaware State University. She began teaching at Seaford Middle School where she worked for seven years as a social studies teacher.

She continued her education at Wilmington University earning and administrative degree there before becoming an instruction coach at Seaford.

A short time later, she moved into an assistant principal position for both the middle school and high school in Seaford. Bringing the International Baccalaureate program to Seaford was big accomplishment for  her, she said.

"We were the first authorized IB school in Kent or Sussex county," she said.

The IB program is a college prep education system used by many European countries. There are a few school districts throughout the state that utilize the program as well.

Now at Cape, Miller said her focus remains on instruction.

She oversees the 11th-grade roster and the first half of the 12th-grade roster, helping students and parents with school issues.

Preparing for the Smarter Balanced testing this year is a big change for the school; Miller is also the point person for Cape's new iPad program.

The move to Cape has been relatively easy for Miller who lives in the Bridgeville area with her husband and son. A slightly different commute to work has been the biggest change so far, she said.

"I look forward to working with everyone this school year. It's great to be here," she said.