Making His Mark

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The Impact of Sanford’s Head of School—Then, Now & Moving Forward

Have you ever heard a forgotten song from childhood and felt instantly transported back to a specifi c moment in time? Caught the lingering scent of pine trees or felt the leaves crunch underfoot in just the right way, and you’re suddenly sixteen again, walking across your high school quadrangle on the way to AP Bio class?

There’s a science behind that nostalgia—and it’s not necessarily about yearning for the past. The feeling of fond remembrance that’s triggered by familiar sights, sounds, and smells can actually help you better understand who you are today and what you want to achieve tomorrow. It can motivate you to connect with others and feel more optimistic and resilient about the future.

As psychological scientist Clay Routledge says, “Nostalgia is one of the self-regulatory tools we use to remind ourselves that we matter.”

Perhaps that’s why Mark Anderson was so drawn to the history of Sanford School when he fi rst became head of school in 2011.

In his fi rst six months on campus, Mark set out to learn as much as he could about Sanford, reading the writings of previous heads, unearthing and displaying original artist renderings of the campus, and moving his young family into the head of school residence, Arunchala.

At the time, Mark said this look back was not about being focused on the past, but about staying true to Sanford’s roots while moving the school forward.

“We will always honor and celebrate our past and use Sanford’s history as a beacon to guide us as we continue our journey as a unique and exceptional school,” he said back then—a sentiment that still guides our community ten years later.

Since Sanford’s founding, the school’s history and traditions have been motivating forces, pushing our community forward while uniting current students and alumni through shared past experiences. Today, Mark continues to use the light of the past to look ahead. He recently renewed his contract with the Sanford Board of Trustees for an additional six years. His continued leadership will make him one of the longest-serving heads in our area and the second-most tenured Sanford head of school.

At Sanford, there’s plenty to be nostalgic about—and plenty about which to look forward. Let’s celebrate this exciting time in our school’s history by looking back then, when Mark fi rst started his headship, to now, when our exciting time in our school’s history by looking back then, when Mark fi rst started his headship, to now, when our campus is growing and thriving, and then glimpse at how we’re on the move to the future. campus is growing and thriving, and then glimpse at how we’re on the move to the future.

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2011 Th en…

In 2011, Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” was rocking the airwaves, Harry Potter was saying goodbye in the theatres, and an estimated 2 billion people watched Britain’s Prince William marry Kate Middleton.

On the Sanford campus, things were just as grand. Enrollment was steady at 575 students, the school’s endowment was $7.4 million, the annual fund raised $413,488, and the school awarded $1.8 million in fi nancial aid.

Sanford was moving ahead with the times and had three computer labs (with shared devices) available to students. The student body refl ected 25.8% racial diversity, with 5% for faculty and staff. Seventeen summer enrichment classes brought in 145 students and a gross income of $65,425.

In 2011, Sanford was celebrating the back-to-back state championships of both the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams (which made Delaware history!). Sanford’s Upper School students were just starting the Sanford News Network, and The Sanford Repertory Theatre Company (SRTC) delivered two stellar productions— “Lend Me a Tenor” for the fall play and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” for the musical.

Back then, the Anderson family had just moved into Arunchala, continuing a tradition dating back to Sanford’s founding. Two of Mark and Nicol’s three children—Stella and Finley—were in Sanford’s grade 2 and kindergarten, while Oliver was only 3 years old. They had fun exploring the creek and riding bikes on the Quad.

“The Anderson children are very happy here, and we all feel very fortunate to be part of this amazing community,” said Nicol Anderson about moving the family onto campus.

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2021 Now...

In the last year, as the world rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic, Harry Potter was re-opening on Broadway, Meghan and Harry were the royals on everyone’s lips, and Adele … came back on our radios.

Much has changed on the Sanford campus—and not just in numbers. Enrollment reached 650 this year, our endowment is now $13.5 million, our Annual Fund raised $600,000, and we have more than doubled the fi nancial aid awarded, to $4.7 million. Our summer enrichment program has grown to include 351 students and 30 classes, bringing in a gross income of $105,475.

Today, our student and faculty population are improving to better refl ect the world around us, yet we acknowledge there is much work to be done to bring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to Sanford School. Our student body is now 26% racially diverse, with 8% racial diversity for faculty and staff. We have appointed a DEI Director and an International Student Coordinator, and have instituted affi nity groups, professional development, and classroom initiatives in order to help create a community where every student can be seen and belong as their authentic self.

Our campus itself has undergone signifi cant changes in the past decade. It is now fully wireless, indoors and out. In addition to our three computer labs, we have the Pirnie STEM Lab and Tech Center, 3D printers, 1:1 devices for grades 1–12, and Swivl robots, which enhanced remote teaching and learning during the pandemic.

We have made upgrades and campus improvements to: ■ Sanford Hall ■ Lower School’s Yearsley Hall and Library ■ du Pont Library ■ Arunchala ■ The former Geipel Gymnasium ■ Orchard Cottage ■ Quigley Hall ■ Stewart Cottage ■ The Middle School interior, ■ Kidder Hall exterior, and playground ■ The Kenneth D. Jones Memorial Chapel.

We’ve strengthened Sanford’s athletic program with the Struthers Family Sports Center, two Bermuda grass fi elds, a baseball fence and bullpen, and scoreboards on all fi elds. We’ve also added sailing, instructional fall tennis, and a Middle School dance team to our athletic offerings.

Inside the classrooms, we’ve implemented a rotating schedule to better serve our students’ needs, added Middle School and Upper School electives, and hired a second full-time college counselor.

Our focus on student health and wellness has expanded to include Social Institute programming, annual Healthy Relationships programming, an Annual Wellness Day, and a full-time Lower School counselor.

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(From the top left to right): Visual arts students, who have worked in refreshed Hebb Hall studios during the past few years, will take classes in an updated and modernized Hebb when the 2022–2023 school year begins. Matt MacKelcan (son of former Head of School Chip MacKelcan) performed in a concert with Grammy-award winner John Lippincott '06 (known professionally as Johnny Duke) and David Bromberg on the Geipel stage. Bass Conde '17 and Rebecca Harrison '18 broadened their horizons in our sailing program. Bryan Wang '19 watches his 3-D printing project take shape in the Pirnie STEM Lab. Tanner Murray measures before making a cut for his project in the Wahl Woodworking Shop. Chap Equity Founder Dr. Sandra Chapman leads a DEI parent and faculty workshop. Sanford's baseball team enjoyed a successful 2021 season, which included a fi rst-round win against Tatnall in the DIAA state tournament. An anonymous gift and auction proceeds made the renovation of the Middle School Library possible.

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As for the Anderson family, they still call Arunchala their home—however, Stella is preparing to graduate in June 2022 and head to Gettysburg College, where she will continue the successful soccer career she began on Sanford’s fi elds. Finley, who is passionate about performing with the choir and SRTC, is aiming to join SRTC’s 10 Show Club. Oliver loves to read, a passion fostered in Sanford’s classrooms and libraries, and he still enjoys running around campus—but now as part of the Middle School Cross Country and Track teams.

“Today, a new chapter of Sanford’s history is being written,” Mark wrote recently. “I look forward to fi lling these next pages with you.” ... and on the Move

And fi ll those pages he will, as Mark resumes his Head of School position for another six years. With so much to refl ect upon, and so much to celebrate today, what does this next chapter hold?

In the coming years, our school will continue to grow its programs, people, and facilities. Right now, we are planning a capital campaign to update the Nancy C. Sawin Math/Science Center, which will create outdoor space for environmental work, new lab spaces with modern tools, new classrooms and light-fi lled common spaces for collaboration, and new courses like Advanced Robotics, Marine Science, and more (Check out pages 10 and 11 for an artist’s conceptual rendering of the new facility.).

In addition, we will be updating Hebb Hall, one of our most historic buildings and home to our Lower School and Middle School art programs. The makeover will provide brighter, larger art studios; a deck; and spaces where creativity can fl ourish.

By focusing on growing our endowment, we will ensure future generations benefi t from Sanford’s long history of providing outstanding learning opportunities to students.

Our DEI focus will also continue. Sanford lives our motto “no talent lies latent” by valuing diversity of culture, ethnicity, race, spirituality, gender, sexual orientation, learning styles, socio-economic status, and interests. The work we’re doing today illuminates the work we must continue to do to build a welcoming, empathetic community.

At Sanford, we are lucky to have a school story that comprises both a rich legacy and a promising outlook. Yet the story that we collectively write today is the one that we will conjure in the future — and one day, the peace of a silent walk through the woods, or the fondness of a favorite song, may bring you back here, to this moment. Together, let’s continue to make these moments to remember.