It was a day of imagination and literary celebration as bestselling author Stuart Gibbs visited Germantown Academy to speak with students across all three divisions. Part of the Head of School Distinguished Speaker Series, the visit brought to life the magic of storytelling and creativity in a way that resonated deeply with readers of all ages.

For Head of School Rich Schellhas 1760, the visit was personal. A longtime admirer of Gibbs’ work—and a self-proclaimed fan of his bestselling middle-grade novels—Schellhas described the author’s presence on campus as “a dream come true,” not only for himself but for the many GA students who have come to love Gibbs' stories.

“Having Stuart Gibbs here was a celebration of imagination,” Schellhas said. “His stories speak directly to the hearts of young readers, and his visit reminded all of us—students and adults alike—of how transformative books can be.”

Gibbs, known for his fast-paced, humorous mystery-adventure books such as Spy School, FunJungle, and Once Upon a Tim, engaged students in back-to-back assemblies that were equal parts entertaining and inspiring. He shared insights into his writing journey, the creative process, and what it means to write for young audiences in today’s world.

The excitement continued into the Superfan Special Luncheon, where 30 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students gathered for a private meal and conversation with the author. Gibbs took time to connect with each student, answering questions and offering encouragement.

That evening, more than 60 lower and middle school families returned to campus for a special reading and Q&A session in the A to Z Library and Learning Commons. Gibbs read from his forthcoming novel, All Ears, making the GA community the first audience in the world to hear the story.