Make Your Mark

"I have had the privilege of interacting with Mark as a student and an employee. In both roles, I have learned so much from him and found his leadership to be truly admirable. Sanford is, I believe, a special and unique place to be, and Mark did a phenomenal job of honoring and cultivating the pieces of Sanford that define our culture and way of being while also providing structure and support for growth and positive change. As an employee, I cannot adequately express my gratitude for the opportunities enthusiastically provided by Mark and his administration, for personal growth, and for allowing me the freedom to learn in a safe environment where individuals matter and where mistakes are not punished or limited.

Mark’s quiet assuredness was calming and inspired confidence in the leadership and direction of the school as a whole. I have been impressed, on many occasions, by Mark’s ability to recall names, graduation years, sibling information, and pertinent details about students throughout the span of his time at Sanford, and I think it speaks to his regard for his role and the school/community. We are lucky to have had him here, and he will be missed."

"When I retired from Sanford, I was able to maintain my connection with the school as a writer, substitute teacher, and tutor. Whenever I ran into Mark on campus, he always took a few moments to stop and chat, usually asking for photos of my grandchildren and checking in on my family. What I found especially impressive was that Mark knew the names of every student I was tutoring and what their educational needs were. He sought updates on their progress and often offered insights or encouragement to me to further my work with them.

I always felt valued and appreciated, regardless of my role at Sanford, because Mark never missed an opportunity to offer sincere compliments and genuine appreciation. It has been my pleasure and privilege to work with and for Mark for most of his 14-year tenure at Sanford, and I wish him all the best in Rhode Island at the very lucky Wheeler School."

"Mark Anderson’s leadership has been a gift to Sanford—his kindness, vision, and unwavering dedication to students and faculty have left a lasting impact. We are deeply grateful for his years of service and the legacy he leaves behind."

"During Mark’s tenure as Head of School, he has significantly improved the school in just about every area imaginable. He has hired quality people, improved enrollment in all divisions, created new programs and curriculum, improved financial health, etc.
The area where he has made the most positive impact, however, is with improving and expanding facilities. In the past, we often had great programs but the facilities were lacking. Under Mark’s leadership, the facilities match the programs! As I continue to give Admissions tours as a volunteer, our beautiful buildings and fields are a real selling point. Mark has done so many great things. He will be missed but Sanford has truly benefited from his efforts and vision!"

"Mark guided Sanford through a difficult financial period without compromising the school's identity and purpose. He demonstrated an incredible ability to work with people of different personalities, opinions, and skill sets—always with humor and calmness. We will miss him, but he helped prepare a worthy and awesome successor in Jaime Morgan."

"I wish Mark great success in his future work.  Mark and the Sanford Team did a great job especially during the period of Covid, to make sure that the classes were wired and kept the education piece going forward.  My son especially enjoyed Mark's class on Leadership."

"I have learned so much from Mark's calm, steady leadership. Seemingly unflappable, Mark is a beacon of light for me whenever I'm in a valley. He is fair, he listens, thoughtfully views all sides, and then makes a decision. I know I am always heard by Mark, and he respects me and my talent at Sanford School. I am so grateful to Mark for spearheading the building of the Geipel Center for Performing Arts. This building changed my life, the lives of my family, and the lives of countless students, teachers, and staff. Mark's far-reaching vision can be seen campus-wide; our school is strong and poised for success in the future. Thank you, Mark, for giving me the room to grow, reflect, and become a better teacher, as well as a better human being. I will miss you, Nicol, and Stella, Finley, and Oliver. I am forever grateful for your friendship."

"Mark leads with intuition, recognizes talent in all its forms, and takes bold chances for the greater good. He is a true leader without ego and an authentic role model for our students. He made Sanford stand out by welcoming all, thinking outside the box, and redefining success beyond what we see. His leadership has left a lasting impact on our community."

"My experience with Mr. Anderson began four years ago when our oldest granddaughter chose Sanford for high school. He was everywhere and at every event, with a smile on his face and genuine interest. He seemed to know every child’s name and what was important in their universe. It was an amazement to me that he managed the school, the faculty, and the campus and was a great father to his own Sanford students, but he did. It gave all of us comfort and security. I sincerely wish him the very best in his new adventure. Mr. Anderson will truly be missed."

"Working with Mark for the past 8 years at Sanford has been such a gift. When I applied for the open position in the Performing Arts Department, I applied knowing that if I got the job, it would truly be a "dream job." And...it is. Mark is not only an incredible boss and mentor, but he is also the biggest supporter of the arts. I never felt that, as a specialist, my content area was any lesser valued than an English or math class or a sports team."

"He wasn’t a typical head of school; he was always present, talking with students, staying connected, and even teaching a leadership class... He also taught a leadership class, which is not common (in my knowledge) for heads of schools to do. He is and will always be a part of Sanford. Even as he moves on to his new job, he will always be a part of the Sanford community, and that is why Sanford has prospered in his leadership; Sanford is more than a school. It's a community and a family, and Mr. Anderson made it that way."