Craig Sellers Appointed Interim Head of School at Walnut Hill School for the Arts

The Board of Trustees of Walnut Hill School for the Arts has named Craig N. Sellers as Interim Head of School, effective August 3, 2026. Sellers will lead the institution over the next two years as the School advances its mission and continues its commitment to artistic and academic excellence.

Sellers was chosen for his extensive experience in leading independent schools and his approach to consensus-building and deep listening, shaped by his Quaker-rooted practice. His selection is the culmination of a rigorous, board-led process supported by Educators Collaborative, the firm that is also working on Walnut Hill’s permanent head search.

“We are thrilled to welcome Craig Sellers to Walnut Hill,” says Co-Chairs Deb Mankiw and Nicole Gakidis. “Craig’s deep knowledge of independent school administration, coupled with his collaborative leadership style and genuine appreciation for Walnut Hill’s unique mission, make him exceptionally well suited to serve as our Interim Head. We look forward to partnering with him as we continue to strengthen the School and prepare for its future.”

“Walnut Hill is a rare and vibrant creative community that beautifully balances the education and training of exceptional young artists while serving a larger purpose,” says Sellers. “Non nobis solum, the school's motto, reminds me what is so inspiring about mission-driven education. I am eager to be on campus and prepare for the 2026–27 school year."

Sellers brings more than 20 years of experience in independent school leadership, including three long-term headships and three prior interim assignments, including his recent work with New Garden Friends School (Greensboro, NC) and previously with Idyllwild Arts Academy (Idyllwild, CA). Additional former headships include service at Princeton Friends School (Princeton, NJ), Friends’ Central School (Wynnewood, PA), The Derryfield School (Manchester, NH), and United Friends School (Quakertown, PA).

Sellers has been featured numerous times in National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) publications. His 2025 article, The Strategic Interim Head, has been shared widely among school leaders and has served as a plan of action for interim heads on an international scale. He holds degrees from Teachers College (Columbia University), New York Law School, and Franklin & Marshall College, and was also a Fulbright Fellow from 2006 to 2007, serving in an international principal exchange in Krabi, Thailand.