An Important Message from Mark J. Anderson

Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Dear Sanford Community,
 
I write with a heavy heart to share the bittersweet news that the 2024-25 school year will be my final year as Head of Sanford School. As many of you know, this is my fourteenth year at Sanford, and Nicol and I have decided it is a good time for our family to discover a new season. I have recently accepted an offer from The Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island, to be their next head of school beginning July 1, 2025, and we are excited for the new opportunities ahead.
 
Leading Sanford has been the singular highlight of my career. I’m incredibly proud of all our school has accomplished these past several years. Since those early days in 2011, Sanford programs and campus spaces have been built and refreshed, enrollment has increased, and the School’s financial health has grown. 
 
Of course, the heart of Sanford has been and always will be our people. Sanford students, families, and alumni continue to make our school a vibrant place to come to work. I’m grateful to my colleagues, both past and present, who tirelessly give their all to Sanford students each and every day. The talent of the Sanford faculty and staff is extraordinary; it was my privilege to lead alongside them, always with our students at the heart of our work. In many ways, Sanford continues to be the school where we live our motto of “No Talent Lies Latent.”
 
Similarly, I’m grateful to the dozens of Sanford trustees with whom I had the pleasure to partner, especially four thoughtful and dedicated Board presidents: Tom Allingham, Bill Lafferty, Ted Dwyer, and Jason Russell. 
 
The Sanford Board of Trustees is dedicated to a smooth transition and has started the search for Sanford's new Head of School. Whoever that fortunate school leader is, they will inherit a strong, healthy school. With the school community working together, I’m certain that Sanford School will continue to succeed in the coming years. 
 
As my family and I prepare for this personal and professional transition, I think about the advice that a former colleague in St. Louis would often share: “Always leave a party while you’re still having fun.” It’s been a wonderful and blessed ride for the Anderson family at Sanford and in Delaware. Stella ‘22, Finley ‘24, and Oliver ‘27 have grown up on this campus. In many ways, Sanford will always be home to them and our family.
 
I announce this news with love, respect, and admiration for our school community and all of you; I will forever carry Sanford in my heart. Please know that I will pour my all into the next nine months and make certain my final school year at Sanford is one to remember.
 
Warmly,
 
Mark J. Anderson
Head of School 

Dear Sanford Community,
 
It is with gratitude and appreciation that I share that Mark Anderson has decided to move on to the next chapter of his career. The 2024-2025 school year will be his last at Sanford. Although we will be sad to see him go, this is also a time to celebrate his many accomplishments. We are eager to build upon his legacy and continue our school's achievements in the years ahead.
 
Mark has been a transformative leader for our school during his remarkable 14-year tenure, the second longest tenure in our history for a Head of School. Under his guidance, Sanford has seen sizable enrollment growth, achieved successful fundraising leading to a significant endowment increase, and undergone a campus revitalization with the renovation of over ten buildings, including The Geipel Center for Performing Arts, The Struthers Family Sports Center, and The Pia Center for Creativity at Hebb Hall. Under Mark's steady and thoughtful leadership during the pandemic, Sanford endured and emerged as a stronger, thriving school community. 
 
Mark has built a dedicated leadership team and hired exceptional faculty and staff to create the Sanford team that supports our students. Under his leadership, Sanford remains a top choice in the Delaware market, with waitlists in many grade levels. Mark leaves Sanford in a position of strength and with a positive upward trajectory.
 
Mark and his wife, Nicol, have raised their family on Sanford’s campus. Stella ‘22, Finley ‘24, and Oliver ‘27 have grown up and flourished at our school as key contributors to their respective classes. We look forward to celebrating and honoring Mark and his family throughout the school year.
 
While we received his news with sadness, the Board of Trustees wholeheartedly supports Mark’s decision to embark on this new stage in his professional journey at The Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island. We are grateful for his leadership and the lasting legacy he leaves behind.
 
The Board is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our community. We have already put a process in motion to find Sanford’s next Head of School and will keep you updated throughout this time. When someone asks what I love about our school, putting aside the exceptional education, the answer is easy: the community and culture. We have this front of mind as we consider the next Head of School, and we are excited to find someone to help us continue growing together as a school and community.
  
Please join me in expressing our gratitude to Mark for his service to Sanford and wishing him and his family all the best as they transition to the next chapter. 
 
Warmly,
 
R. Jason Russell
President, Sanford Board of Trustees