Introducing Mark Anderson: Wheeler’s Next Head of School

We are excited to share that Mark Anderson, an accomplished school leader who recently began his 21st year of independent school headship, will be Wheeler’s next head of school! He will begin on July 1, 2025.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Wheeler School community as your next head of school,” Mr. Anderson says. “Wheeler is a school that I have long admired. Your mission, ‘To learn our powers and be answerable for their use,’ speaks to who I am as an educator and leader. From the first day I met members of your community and throughout my visit to campus, I was struck by the spirit of purpose at Wheeler. Whether I was speaking with students, teachers, school leaders, families, or alumni, the passion and commitment for your school rang true.

“With innovative teaching and distinctive programs, Wheeler is a unique and powerful voice on the national independent school scene,” he continues. “I’m honored and privileged to accept this opportunity, and I’m excited to get to know Wheeler and members of your community. Nicol, Oliver, and I look forward to making the move to Providence this summer and joining you on Hope Street and the farm. Wishing you all a wonderful 2024-25 school year–Go Warriors!”

You can read more about Mr. Anderson, and the search process for our ninth head of school, in the following letter from Board of Trustees President Alisia St. Florian ’86.

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Dear Wheeler Community,

It is with great enthusiasm that we announce the decision to appoint Mark Anderson as the next head of The Wheeler School, effective July 1, 2025. After an extensive, international search and careful consideration of several highly qualified finalists, we are convinced that Mark is the right leader to guide Wheeler into its next chapter of growth, academic innovation, and community engagement.

What sets Mark apart is his exceptional leadership, which has earned him the trust and respect of faculty, staff, parents, and students alike at the Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware, where he currently serves as head of school. As we learned through conversations with those who know and work with him, Mark has an unwavering commitment to the well-being of students and a deep understanding of the importance of building supportive and inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and heard. It was clear from our interviews that Mark understands the work behind the scenes is just as crucial to a thriving school as the work done in classrooms and studios, and on performance stages and athletic fields, and he makes a point to recognize and appreciate the contributions of all members of the community.

Mark’s authenticity shone through the earnest conversations he had with our students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff during his recent campus visits, and we heard about these same qualities from members of his current school community. As he shared with us, he is a lifelong learner who is constantly evolving as a leader, and always seeking ways to improve. As head of school at Sanford, Mark was not only a visible and active presence on campus but also deeply committed to knowing each student personally, both as scholars and as individuals. His dedication to creating a school environment that is enriching, welcoming, and inclusive will continue to foster a sense of belonging for everyone in our own community.

Mark is also recognized as a leader who can balance expansive vision with tactical action. In getting to know him through the search process, it was clear that Mark does not just lead with ideas; he knows when to build consensus and when to act decisively to implement necessary changes. Long before conversations around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging became central in independent schools, Mark was already leading with a focus on how decisions impacted the entire student body. He consistently engages alumni, parents, and students to ensure that every aspect of the school experience is fulfilling for all.

Mark’s appointment is the culmination of a six-month-long search, which attracted interest from accomplished educators and ultimately incorporated feedback from faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and administrators. His candidacy was supported by glowing recommendations from colleagues, trustees, and those who have reported to him. Among other accolades, they describe him as a transformational leader who helped Sanford achieve remarkable enrollment growth, successful fundraising, and a campus revitalization during his tenure. The enthusiastic response from Wheeler families, and our faculty and staff, underscored the board’s decision. On our own community survey, an overwhelming 97% of respondents affirmed they felt Mark possesses the experience and expertise needed to lead Wheeler.

Lastly, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our current head of school, Allison Gaines Pell, whose steady leadership and sense of unity have guided the Wheeler community over the last eight years. We are deeply thankful for her dedication and service to our school. Her leadership has been both invaluable and impactful, and we will continue to rely on her guidance as we move through this important transition. We are grateful for her ongoing commitment to Wheeler and the support she will provide during this next chapter.

While the joy and energy of this school year is just getting underway, we also feel incredibly fortunate that Mark will join our community next summer, along with his wife, Nicol, and their children, daughters Stella (a junior at Gettysburg College) and Finley (who will attend Syracuse University next fall following a gap year), and son Oliver (a high school sophomore who is excited to join the Wheeler Class of 2027). We look forward to the exciting future we will build together under his leadership. Please join me in welcoming Mark and his family to Wheeler!

Sincerely,
Alisia St. Florian ’86
Chair, Board of Trustees

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What Other Wheeler Community Members Have to Say About Our Next Head of School

“Throughout the search process I was struck by Mr. Anderson’s ability to really listen, his keen powers of observation, and his sense of humor. Most of all I was impressed by his communication skills. He is a compelling writer and a strong public speaker, necessary qualities for a school’s ‘Storyteller-in-Chief.’ I am excited for the next stage in our ambitious school’s evolution.”
– Mark Harris P’08, P’24, Director of Aerie Enrichment

“Everything we’ve learned about Mark— both from his visits to Wheeler and from those who have worked with and for him—has been universally positive. We were impressed with the reports on his abilities to build strong communities, innovate with purpose, lead with respect, and engage both families and students. The search committee is beyond excited to welcome him to Wheeler and we all look forward to the inspiring leadership he will bring to our school.”
– Katie Goodfellow P’25, Trustee and Chair of the Search Committee

“Having had opportunities to engage with Mark in a variety of contexts given my roles on the Search Committee, Leadership Team, and our Families with Children of Color community, I am excited to welcome him as our next head of school and a thought partner on our Equity, Community and Belonging initiatives. During his visit, Mark clearly articulated his commitment to DEIB, and I eagerly look forward to collaborating with him as we continue our work within Wheeler and the surrounding communities.”
– Princess Sirleaf Bomba P’16, P’18, Director of Community, Equity, and Belonging

“Mark is an experienced and forward thinking leader with a strong track record of continuous improvement in his past headships. As an alumnus and board member, I know he will help us build on the traditions and remarkable DNA that makes Wheeler such an extraordinary school.”
– Matt Coen ’88, Trustee

“Mark has had his eye on Wheeler for a long time. He has always admired our focus on the student experience expressed in Wheeler’s many programs, big and small, and our unique places like the farm. He will bring to his destination school deep and broad experiences, a collaborative spirit, and steady leadership style.

“I had the great fortune of having one-on-one time with Mark as we drove to and from the farm during his campus visit, when we talked about everything from Mary C. Wheeler’s vision for her school to progressive, student-centered education. Mark’s ‘both/and’ thinking about academic excellence, social-emotional learning, critical thinking, and DEIB was at once reassuring and inspiring. I’m excited for this next phase in Wheeler’s evolution.”
– Young Un P’12, Head of Strategic Innovation

Mark Anderson’s Professional Profile

Sanford School (2011-present)
Hockessin, Delaware

• Head of School

Whitfield School (1998-2011)
St. Louis, Missouri

• Head of School (2004-2011)
• Dean of Faculty and Admission Associate (2002 – 2004)
• Senior Seminar teacher and 12th grade advisor (2006 – 2011)
• 7th and 8th grade English/math teacher (1999 – 2002)
• Middle School soccer, basketball, and baseball coach (1998 – 2008)

Columbia University

• Klingenstein Center, Master’s Field Instructor (2009 – present)

University of Pennsylvania

• Graduate School of Education, Master’s Mentor (2020 – present)

Education

Maryville University (2001)

• Master of Arts in Education – Educational Administration

University of Missouri (1995)

• Bachelor of Science in Education (Major: Elementary Education; Minor: Spanish)

Professional Development

• Northwestern School of Management ISACS Leadership Academy
• Harvard University Leadership: An Evolving Vision
• Vanderbilt University Independent School Leadership Conference
• Harvard University Independent School Institute
• Columbia University/Klingenstein Head of School Fellowship

Acknowledgements

The Wheeler School Board of Trustees extends its sincere thanks to the following people for their investment of time, resources, knowledge, and wisdom during this search process: Thank you to Wheeler’s administrative team, including the director of strategic communications and the chief of staff, who ensured that people, places, and messaging were always ready when we needed them to be. We would also like to thank the many members of our staff and faculty whose graciousness and helpfulness made every finalist’s visit memorable and representative of the spirit of The Wheeler School. Finally, we express deep appreciation to the Search Committee, the Faculty and Staff Advisory Committee, and Search Firm RG175. You can see a full list of those committees’ members on the Head of School Search webpage.